San Diego County Medical Examiner just released Earl McNeil's autopsy report. Significant portions of the investigative narrative are redacted, but the report notes abrasions to his wrists, knee and foot +
Cause of death is hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy — brain damage from lack of oxygen —due to resuscitated cardiorespiratory arrest. Meth toxicity, agitation and and "respiratory compromise" are also contributing factors.
This doesn't strike me as any different than any positional restraint death, even though the Wrap (used on McNeil) is supposed to be more humane than hogtying.
Of course they release this on a Friday afternoon, because that's what gov't agencies do. There's an unwritten code: "release important info on Friday afternoons when no one's around to comment."
Report says that they handcuffed McNeil, pushed him to the ground, put him in a Wrap, and put a "spit hood" on him, at which point he told National City Police officers that he couldn't breathe.
He told police he was having a seizure. He was put in the back of a police car for one hour and 17 minutes before being transported to jail. One hour and 17 minutes.
I can't imagine being tied up in a Wrap for 77 minutes. During the nine-minute drive to the Central Jail, he was banging his head on the police car's plastic divider.
This is what the Wrap looks like. 
By the time McNeil arrived to the Central Jail, the spit hood "was saturated with bloody saliva" and they had to replace it.
He was then moved to a gurney and "secured" to be evaluated by a nurse. Part of the report is redacted at this point.
The nurse recommended he be taken to the hospital. At this point, a deputy "used McNeil's T-shirt to cover McNeil's mouth." The Wrap was reapplied.
When medics arrived, McNeil had two spit hoods AND the T-shirt pulled over his face. Jesus.
Another large portion of the report is redacted at this point.
Report says the meth alone could have caused a heart attack, but so could his struggle with police. "He also had respiratory compromise due to his position and the objects over his mouth (and possibly nose..."
The manner of death is homicide.
Earlier today, the DA released video of McNeil's arrest and announced that officers aren't criminally liable. nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Nat…
Some reporters (incl. me) weren't invited to @SDDistAtty's press conference today re: McNeil case. Not the first time this has happened. I've complained in the past to apparently no avail. But @gregmoran and crew wrote a pretty good in-depth piece. sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-sa…
