THE FAMILY OF Yolanda Ramirez filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on Thursday against the city of Brentwood, alleging the 72-year-old woman died from a head injury after a city police officer slammed her against a patrol car.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court on behalf of her husband Rudolf Ramirez and their three children, alleges Brentwood Police Officer Aaron Peachman violently detained Yolanda Ramirez on Sept. 26 and then left her injured and unresponsive in the back seat of a patrol car for at least 20 minutes.
She died Oct. 3 after emergency surgery to repair a brain bleed.
Officers first encountered Yolanda Ramirez outside a home on Broderick Drive, where she had gone to pick up her elderly brother for his doctor’s appointment. When he didn’t answer the door, she called out to try to get his attention and got into an argument with her sister, according to the lawsuit.
Brentwood police were summoned to a reported dispute between two elderly women, and Peachman and another unidentified female officer arrived.
The lawsuit maintains Yolanda Ramirez was cooperative and spoke to the female officer outside, while Peachman spoke to her sister inside the home.
At some point, the female officer yelled out that Yolanda Ramirez was fleeing, despite never providing her any commands, according to the lawsuit.
“Defendant Peachman barreled out of the house and grabbed Mrs. Ramirez’s arm, while the female Defendant Officer grabbed her from the opposite side. Mrs. Ramirez cried out in pain and confusion,” the lawsuit claims.
Peachman allegedly pushed his forearm against the back of her neck and her head struck the patrol car. After that, the lawsuit claims, Yolanda Ramirez was left in the car for at least 20 minutes before the officer came back to check on her.
“All of the officers returned to look at Mrs. Ramirez but failed to interact with her or provide medical care,” the lawsuit alleges.
An ambulance arrived a few minutes later and Yolanda Ramirez underwent emergency brain surgery at John Muir Medical Center. She was taken off life support on Oct. 3.
In a public statement about the death of Yolanda Ramirez, interim Chief Walter O’Grodnick said in November that “she was placed under a citizen’s arrest at the request of a family member.” following “a family dispute” on the morning of Sept. 26.
“When officers arrived, Ms. Ramirez attempted to flee the scene. Officers detained Ms. Ramirez, and after being secured in a patrol vehicle, officers noticed she appeared to be having a medical issue, and they immediately contacted medical personnel,” according to an email O’Grodnick sent to media outlets.