Federal Suit Seeks Damages After Man Dies Trapped in Azusa Police SUV

A federal civil rights lawsuit filed on Tuesday, Oct. 27, seeks monetary damages for the death of a 37-year-old father who was found dead inside a parked police vehicle in Azusa. The legal action accuses officers of negligence for failing to oversee the man's well-being after his release from custody. The family’s attorneys stated they are pursuing the case to obtain justice and answers regarding the circumstances that led to the death.

The lawsuit details a timeline beginning around 9:40 p.m. on March 20, when Eric Valencia was arrested for a suspected DUI. He told officers he was an alcoholic and expected to be in detox. Valencia spent two days and 15 hours in the Azusa Police Department jail before being released just after 12:30 p.m. on March 23. Surveillance video shows him walking alone onto Alameda Avenue, turning back toward three parked police vehicles, and climbing into the rear seat of an unlocked SUV.

Attorneys representing the family say the vehicle was awaiting maintenance and that the back door could not be opened from the inside. They argue that a person trapped in the rear seat required assistance to exit. The SUV was parked directly outside the station. Despite this location, no one discovered Valencia for days. His body was found on March 26 by a worker inspecting the vehicle. An autopsy determined that hyperthermia caused his death.

The legal team contends that Valencia was suffering from alcohol withdrawal and psychosis at the time of his release. They assert that police chose to release him rather than provide medical help. The attorneys also criticized the department’s response to the family’s reports. They claim officials dismissed early concerns and falsely told relatives that Valencia was last seen walking toward a train. In reality, he remained in the police SUV for up to three days.

Family members described the emotional impact of the death during a news conference held on Wednesday, Oct. 28, in South Pasadena. Julia McCormick, Valencia’s sister-in-law, said police did not take their reports seriously. "They (police) didn’t take us seriously," McCormick said. "We were pleading with them, ‘Something is wrong, he was last known to be here (at the jail), so do your job.’" She added that the family felt officials were keeping information from them as if they were criminals.

The city of Azusa issued a statement noting its practice of not providing public comment on active or pending litigation. Officials said the city remains committed to transparency and due process and will address the matter through legal channels. The lawsuit asks the court to determine why police did not review security footage after receiving a missing-person report on March 25. It also questions why no one noticed a person trapped in a vehicle so close to the facility. The suit seeks an unspecified amount in monetary damages.

Justine Cendejas, the mother of Valencia’s two children, said the boys still ask for their father every night. "There is nothing I can do to take away their pain," she said. Attorney Luis Carrillo noted that the patrol vehicle became a tomb for his client. He argued that Valencia suffered from extreme heat, thirst, physical pain, and fear before his death, according to the medical report.