Marty was booked into jail on suspicion of assault on the night of December 15, 2011. While being processed in the booking area, deputies claim that he became aggressive and needed to be subdued. Camera footage taken at the time supports no such claim and shows Maricopa County Sherriff's deputies and numerous other assorted law enforcement personnel forcing Marty down to the floor with force. He was later taken into a "safe cell" and stripped naked as it was determined that he might be a threat to himself. Footage taken in the isolation cell show numerous personnel holding him down and tasing him several times. He was then left alone and motionless in the cell for the next nine minutes until deputies stormed into the room to find Marty in cardiac arrest. CPR was performed on him before taking him to the hospital. He was in the hospital for two days before being declared brain dead. His family removed him from life support shortly after. He passed away on the 20th of December. His story made national headlines and was of particular interest in Arizona where Maricopa County Sherriff Joe Arpaio had already been previously investigated by the United States Department of Justice and his department found to have used racial profiling and numerous alleged incidents of gratuitous brutality against citizens and inmates thought to be of Hispanic heritage.

Obituary for Ernest Marty Atencio

Ernest Marty Atencio, 44, fun loving son, brother, father and uncle passed away December 20, 2011. He was born February 22, 1967 in Alamogordo, NM to Ernest Joe and Rosemary Atencio. Marty proudly served his country in the US Army. Marty was known as a practical joker and could warm up any room that he entered and could relate to people at all levels.

Marty has touched many lives throughout the community and will be forever loved and missed by his family, friends and acquaintances. Marty is survived by his parents Rosemary and Joe Atencio; children Joshua, Joseph and Marty Atencio; brothers Mike E. wife Michelle and Eric J. wife Heather Atencio, sister Abigail Atencio; 4 nieces, 4 nephews, 3 aunts, 5 uncles and many cousins.

A gathering for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2011 from 5 to 8 pm at Heritage Funeral Chapel 6830 W Thunderbird Rd., Peoria, AZ 85381. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2011 at 9 am at the mortuary. Graveside service with full military honors will follow at 11 am at the National Memorial Cemetery of AZ 23029 N Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ.

How blessed is the tie that binds our hearts in lasting love, the comradeship of kindred minds is like to that above, so when at last we have to part in sorrow and in pain we know we still are joined in heart until we meet again.

I would like to give a big thank you to Mr. ROBERT DURAN. for his kindness and generosity in sponsoring Marty's memorial. It is appreciated!