Wife Files Lawsuit In Hawaii Police Restraint Death

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in the case of a Hawaii man who died while being restrained by police.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Michele Y.M.H. Torres, the wife of 37-year-old Aaron Torres, is suing the city of Honolulu and the three police officers who restrained her husband at their home on Feb. 20, 2012 after he called 911.

Torres died while handcuffed, shackled and held face-down.

The medical examiner has determined that Torres suffocated and has ruled the death a homicide.

The autopsy also said Torres had cocaine in his blood, and that a contributing cause and significant condition in the death was his history of chronic cocaine abuse.

The city prosecutor declined to pursue criminal charges against the officers.