James Mincey Jr. died on April 5, 1982, in Los Angeles, California after being placed in a carotid hold while under arrest by the Los Angeles Police Department. While driving home on an early April night in 1982, Mincey Jr. was stopped by police officers for a cracked windshield and was issued a ticket. A few minutes later, a pursuit was initiated after Mincey Jr. failed to stop for the police again. He was acting under the suspicion that the police were harassing him, so he continued driving home. Once home, Mincey Jr. exited his vehicle and was sprayed with "tear gas" in his face. He broke free from the two arresting officer's grips and moved towards his home, while trying to clean his face.