California cops release footage of suspect who 'wrapped a seatbelt round his neck and choked himself in the back of a patrol car while in handcuffs'

Police in California have released bodycam footage of the arrest of a suspect - and the moment they discovered he had strangled himself with a seatbelt in the back of the cop cruiser. 

The 20-minute-long video, from September 27, includes 911 call audio from people in the area reporting the attempted break-in of a car and a stranger trying to force his way into a home through a patio door. 

It ends with unconcious suspect Emilio Villa Mora, of Mexico, being cut free from the seatbelt wrapped around him in the back of the patrol car, and an officer's attempt at CPR.

The footage begins with a call from Mora who claims 'the cartel' is 'trying to kill' him as he makes his way from the Sante Fe Ave. Amtrak station. Another call is made from the Stanislaus County Doctors Behavioral Health Center. 

Modesto Police eventually caught up with Mora who was heard yelling in the footage 'I'm not doing nothing!' 

He attempted to run away from the officers who deployed Taser against him - which had no effect.  

**WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT** 

Modesto Police are seen cutting Emilio Villa Mora free from a seatbelt wrapped around his neck on September 27

Footage released this week shows the moment police realized he was unconscious. It then shows cops pull him from the car

Mora is seen sitting in the patrol car after his arrest, before he was found with the seatbelt round his neck

The video shows them detain the 33-year-old man on the ground where he's heard repeatedly telling officers 'I can't breathe,' to which one replies: 'No one's knee is on your neck.' 

At one point Mora screams for help, and at other times he begs for water.  

He is later bundled into a patrol car and given water, but declined medical attention. 

Locals then identified him as the man suspected of attempting a break-in around Briggsmore Avenue and Claus Road and of trying to steal a car with a 15-year-old boy inside, according to police.

The body-worn cameras were switched off for those conversations. 

The edited video later cuts to Mora slumped over and unconscious with a seatbelt wrapped around his neck in the back of the patrol car.

One of several cops standing by asks whether the belt is around his neck.

'Get a knife. We gotta pull him out and start CPR,' Officer Catrina instructs others. After cutting him free, two officers then lay him flat on the ground and begin CPR, before the footage ends.

The video also includes a call from suspect Emilio Villa Mora, of Mexico, who claims 'the cartel' is 'trying to kill' him while people at other addresses report related incidents

Body-worn camera clips capture how police chased him as he yelled 'I'm not doing nothing!'

While he's being arrested Mora is heard yelling 'I can' breathe' and an officer responds, 'No one's knee is on your neck'

Police believe a handcuffed Mora was able to unbuckle himself and tightly wrap the adjacent seatbelt around his neck, leading to asphyxiation.

According to police, Mora was rushed to a hospital with a faint pulse and he died there several days later.

Police believe he may have been suffering from a mental health or drug-related episode.

However they noted that while he was in the car there was 'nothing that suggested that he was in distress or doing anything out of the ordinary.'

'There is no evidence to suggest that he was being chased or his safety was in jeopardy,' police stated.

Modesto Police Assistant Chief Brandon Gillespie said the incident was a tragedy for all involved, 'especially Mr. Villa Mora’s family.' 

Anyone with information is asked to call 209-342-6107.

A police officer is seen cleaning him off with a hose before he is transported back to the area of the 911 calls