Without admitting wrong-doing on the part of police, Redwood City settled a wrongful death lawsuit for $250,000 with the family of Ricardo Escobedo, the 29-year-old resident who died after a scuffle with eight officers. The settlement reached in March ends the family’s federal lawsuit, just prior to a scheduled jury trial, said Redwood City spokesman Malcolm Smith. The money will be released as a trust for Escobedo’s two children. Escobedo, known as “Ricky,” died Nov. 17, 2002 after officers responded to a domestic dispute. The official cause of death was a heart attack due to “excited delirium” after the scuffle which included pepper spray, nunchucks and a straight jacket-like wrap, according to the report by Coroner Robert Foucrault. The report also noted traces of methamphetamine in his system. Both internal affairs and District Attorney Jim Fox cleared the officers of any criminal wrongdoing. However, Escobedo’s family refused to accept the findings. They said the amount of force used by the police broke seven ribs and damaged his trachea, leaving him unable to breathe. They unsuccessfully filed claims against the city and battled to have the case re-opened. Without the option of pursuing criminal charges against the officers, the civil suit was the only option left to hold somebody accountable for the death. [more]
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- 60 Minutes: You may not find the diagnosis "excited delirium" in a medical dictionary, but it’s popping up more and more around the country, especially when people die right after brawling with the police. [more]