Coroner releases name of 2nd man to die during a police struggle

The Benton County Coroner’s Office released the identity of the 56-year-old Grandview man who died after a struggle with officers on Monday.

Samuel Gonzales died after a four-hour standoff ended with the Tri-City Regional SWAT team and Benton County Sheriff’s deputies when they used a Taser to subdue him.

He reportedly had a pistol when he drove across the county line in a stolen car from Yakima County, Benton County Sheriff’s officials posted on Facebook.

Gonzales was in custody when he stopped breathing. Officers tried to revive him and rushed him to a hospital.

The Benton County Coroner’s Office is waiting for blood test results before determining why he died, Coroner Bill Leach said.

It was the second death related to an arrest within a day. Jose Mercado, 48, of Texas, died earlier Monday after a struggle with five Richland police officers outside a Wilson Street home.

This story was originally published January 24, 2019 at 2:15 PM.