Kin of Fil-Am who died after he was 'asphyxiated' by cops settle lawsuit for $7.5M

NEW YORK — The Antioch City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of Filipino-American Navy veteran Angelo Quinto, who died in December 2020 following an interaction with police officers.

The $7.5-million settlement marks the resolution of a contentious legal battle that has gripped the community for years.

The Quinto family's lawsuit alleged that officers used excessive force during the encounter, leading to Angelo's death. 

In ruling for the settlement, councilmembers cited the advice of insurance authorities, including the Municipal Pooling Authority and California Affiliated Risk Management Authority, as a significant factor in their decision. 

They said by settling the lawsuit, the city avoids the possibility of shouldering significant legal fees and potential judgments that could have strained its finances.

While some councilmembers expressed sympathy for the Quinto family and acknowledged the complexities of the case, others emphasized the absence of criminal wrongdoing by the involved officers, as determined by previous investigations.

On December 23, 2020, officers responded to the home of Angelo's parents after dispatch received a call that he was attacking them. 

Angelo's sister, Bella Quinto Collins, placed the call, informing police that he was strangling their mother. She also informed police that Angelo, then 30 years old, was suffering from a mental health emergency.

Instead of an ambulance or doctor, however, police officers answered the family’s call for help. When they arrived on the scene, Collins said Quinto was already calm.

Although the Quinto family claimed officers restrained Angelo by using a knee to his neck for five minutes, this was proven false during the investigation. Police stated they had only placed a knee on his back. 

Angelo died in the hospital three days later. —KBK, GMA Integrated News