The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled that the death of a 35-year-old Kaneohe man after being restrained by a police officer during an arrest in June was a homicide.

The family of Stephen Dinnan has maintained that his death was due to excessive force by an arresting officer and was a homicide.

The Medical Examiner’s Office also reported that Dinnan died from asphyxia due to compression while being restrained in a prone position. He also suffered injury to his neck.

Dinnan was taken off life support June 4 after he was pronounced brain dead.

He was in critical condition after officers arrived June 3 at a Waimanalo home to find a stolen vehicle, and he fought off attempts to detain him, police said.

His family’s attorney said then that the officer choked him unconscious, and his back, neck and arms were covered in bruises.