Funds Raised For Gilroy Man's Funeral

GILROY, CA — Family members of a 42-year-old Gilroy resident who died after a chase and struggle with Gilroy police officers Sunday night are seeking to raise as much as $10,000 to lay him to rest. Steven Abraham Juarez, whom the Santa Clara County Medical's Examiner's Office confirmed Wednesday as the man who died, leaves behind five sons between 6 and 22 years old, relatives said on a GoFundMe page.

As of Thursday evening, more than $2,000 had been donated toward his funeral expenses.

Juarez was a son, brother, father, uncle and friend to many, wrote relative Daniel Salcido via the campaign page.

Juarez "unjustly lost his life at the hands of the Gilroy Police Department," Salcido wrote. "We are dealing with grieving our loved one as we are writing this. At the same time we are unexpectedly left with the final expenses of honoring his life. We are asking the community for help to lay Steven Juarez to rest in peace."

According to Gilroy police, officers responded to 9:55 p.m. call from a resident in the 7400 block of Chestnut Street about a suspicious person in their backyard. Police say that as they arrived on scene, Juarez ran from officers and was seen on the roofs of at least two residences. Police say a witness recalled hearing a sound consistent with someone falling. When officers caught up with Juarez he was reportedly bleeding from his face, police said.

A struggle ensued, with officers using a Taser, physical force and a carotid restraint as they tried to take him into custody, police said.

At some point, however, officers noticed Juarez was in "medical distress" so they began life-saving measures while also summoning Gilroy Fire Department paramedics to the scene, according to police.

Paramedics continued the life-saving efforts, police said, and took Juarez to a trauma center at a local hospital — where Juarez was pronounced dead.

Wednesday, the Gilroy Police Department released a statement saying the death is being investigated by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office and medical examiner's office, and that no further details will be released until the reports are completed.

"While this is a tragic event for our community, we encourage anyone with information about this case to call the Investigations Bureau at 408-846-0350," Gilroy police said.

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• Vigil Held For Gilroy Man Who Died In Police Struggle
• Gilroy Man Dies After Police Chase, Struggle

Photos via GoFundMe; Patch is a GoFundMe promotional partner