Jose Carlos Hoyos-Munoz Died After Exposure to Gas Deployed by SWAT Officers Following Standoff and Restraint in Chair
CHATSWORTH, CALIFORNIA (August 1, 2026) – A 59-year-old man identified as Jose Hoyos-Munoz tragically died following a Los Angeles Police Department standoff in Chatsworth.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident began around 11:30 AM on Monday, July 13, 2026. Police officers were called to a home on the 9700 block of Delco Avenue after getting reports of an assault.
Officers arrived at the scene and were involved in an hours-long standoff with Jose Hoyos-Munoz. At some point during the encounter, SWAT officers used some type of gas or chemical irritant.
The suspect was transported to the hospital to receive treatment. After being cleared from the hospital, the LAPD said that they deployed a “non-categorial use of force” at the jail he was booked into.
This involved him being placed in a five-point restraint chair. He was then placed in a jail cell where officers placed him face down to remove his handcuffs.
At some point after that incident, officers noticed that he was not breathing. Despite additional medical interventions, Jose Hoyos-Munoz was later pronounced deceased.
A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Chatsworth In-Custody Deaths
When the state assumes control of a person through incarceration, certain constitutional standards must apply. Among other things, all persons who were taken into police custody must receive adequate medical treatment for all of their needs. Failing to give inmates adequate medical treatment is considered a form of cruel and unusual punishment, and therefore unconstitutional. There are many ways that jail officials may have acted negligently and contributed to an inmate death.
- Excessive Force: Jail officials may have struck an inmate or used excessive chemical irritant that caused an inmate to go into medical distress.
- Positional Asphyxia: Jail officials may have placed an inmate in a prone position that unnecessarily restricted their breathing.
- Wellness Checks: Jail officials may have failed to periodically monitor inmates to ensure that they’re all right.
- Emergency Response: Jail officials may have delayed getting an inmate access to emergency care.
Not every instance of harm in a jail will rise to the level of a constitutional violation. When evaluating whether or not a law-enforcement agency could be liable for an inmate, it matters whether or not jail officials acted with deliberate indifference. If jail officials were deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate in their custody, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim.
Factors That May Contribute to Inmate Deaths
Far too many inmates die every year in preventable circumstances. According to The Marshall Project, “Every year millions of people cycle through America’s prisons and jails. Many of them never make it home. Incarcerated people die of medical neglect. They die because guards beat them or because they get into fights with each other. They get sick or succumb to terminal illness.” Multiple factors could contribute to any inmate’s death.
- Jails have a very high turnover rate. This can lead to situations where jails are understaffed.
- Another consequence of the high turnover rates of jails is that many of the remaining officers are not particularly experienced.
- Jails across Los Angeles County are often filled with illicit substances like fentanyl.
- It is also relatively common for jails across Los Angeles County to be overcrowded. This can affect the quality of care that all inmates receive.
Jail deaths tend to be highly preventable in many different settings. They are often the consequence of jail officials failing to take reasonable measures to protect inmates from harm. Unfortunately, jails are never likely to admit fault when they fail to properly care for an inmate who dies in their custody. This is why it can be so important that these incidents are thoroughly investigated by an outside party.
Investigating Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jose Hoyos-Munoz. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Every person deserves equal protection and due process under the Constitution, regardless of what they are being accused of.
Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County inmate death? Our team of civil rights advocates is here for you. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and holding law enforcement accountable for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
