Bostick family and residents demand answers; council says it is awaiting coroner and DA reports

Family members of Brian Bostick and multiple community members used the public-comment period on May 5 to demand transparency about Bostick's death, asking why the names of officers and paramedics allegedly involved had not been released and pressing the council to provide coroner and body-camera information.

"Why was a coroner at the scene of Brian Bostick's crime scene and then at the police station shortly after? My family is owed transparency, truth, and justice," a family member told the council during the public-comment period. Family speakers asked repeatedly for the names of the officers they said were involved and for timelines for release of body-camera footage and coroner findings.

Other commenters echoed those demands and accused the city and police department of a cover-up; one speaker said existing oversight bodies had not been properly staffed and referenced state transparency laws. "Under senate bills 14 21 and 16, the names of officers involved in the death are public record," one commenter said, arguing the city was withholding identities.

Arturo Martinez, who introduced himself during public comment as a candidate for mayor, criticized the current council and said he was running because he believed leadership had been unresponsive to community concerns.

In response, councilmembers repeatedly expressed condolences and said they were awaiting formal reports. "When those reports come, the family will be notified," one councilmember said, adding that preliminary reports would go to the district attorney and the police department and that the council could not release details until those processes were complete. Council members emphasized they understood the family's grief and urged comment that complied with decorum rules.

No new investigatory findings or officer names were released at the meeting. The transcript shows the council said it was waiting for coroner, district attorney and internal police reports and that it would notify the family when appropriate.

What happens next: councilmembers said they will await official reports and will provide information to the family as allowed by law and investigation confidentiality; no vote or policy action related to the investigation was taken during the May 5 meeting.