Black Man Dies After Routine Traffic Stop While Heading to See His Mother, Family Demands Answers

A month ago, police officers in California pulled over a Black man who told them that he was on his way to visit his mother. However, the 37-year-old man allegedly died after officers forced him out of the car and restrained him on the ground.

A 37-year-old Black man, identified as Bryan Bostic, died after he was forced out of his car by police officers in California. Bostic was on his way to visit his mother when the incident occurred.

The incident occurred a month ago, and the Inglewood Police Department has not released details. City officials released the usual standard saying they cannot provide information because the case is under investigation.

Bostic’s family obtained an audio recording from the traffic stop and video recorded by a witness that showed he was pulled over for unspecified reasons and forced out of the car because his driver’s license may have been suspended.

The victim’s family has retained an attorney who filed a notice of claim against the city of Inglewood, the first step in filing a lawsuit against a government agency.

“The IPD officers’ use of force against the victim, Bryan Bostic, was unreasonable, excessive, and not necessary to defend human life,” California attorney Denisse Gastelum said in a notice of claim.

“The IPD officers’ failure to summon immediate medical care to Bryan Bostic was inhuman and demonstrated deliberate indifference to his constitutional rights. Consequently, Bryan Bostic died as a result of the IPD officers’ actions and inactions,” the notice of claim stated.

Bostic was pulled over at around 9:30 on March 10 after police initiated a routine traffic stop, the notice of claim stated. “I don't have anything, I am going to see my mom, I don’t have anything, no sir,” he said in the audio recording.

The audio recording is muffled at times, and it also appears to show Bostic accusing officers of violating his rights before they discuss a suspended license. “Yeah, I should be valid, but it was due for suspension in a week,” Bostic said. “I got the paperwork in the back.”

Moments later, the conversation escalates with the officer yelling “stop” before the recording ends. The video was recorded by a witness and provided to Atlanta Black Star, which begins with an officer straddling Bostic, who is lying facedown on the street.

Bostic’s family has been left in the dark since his death. “We need to know what happened. Why did you guys stop him?” said Bostic's cousin, Talia Castillo, in an Instagram video recorded during a protest last month.

“Why did he not make it back to his family? That’s what we need to know: we need answers. We don’t know anything. All we know is that a routine traffic stop turned deadly.”