RICHLAND, Wash. (Legal Newsline) — A wrongful death lawsuit targets the Spokane Police Department over how its officers restrained the decedent.
The Estate of Clovy Jaramillo, through Christina Hernandez as the administrator of his estate, filed a complaint Oct. 6 in Spokane County Superior Court against the City of Spokane, Spokane Police Department Chief Craig Meidl and others, alleging wrongful death, excessive force and other claims. The case has since been removed to federal court.
According to the plaintiff's complaint, on Oct. 6, Spokane Police officers were called to a gas station regarding Jaramillo having a potential drug overdose, laying in the street and throwing himself in front of cars.
The plaintiff claims Jaramillo was dragged off and pinned to the ground by several bystanders and that police officers attempted to arrest him while he was vomiting profusely and appearing to have a seizure. The plaintiff also claims an officer administered a sedative shot to Jaramillo and that he was in a prone restraint which caused him to lose consciousness.
Jaramillo, according to the complaint, died, with autopsy results listing cause of death as cardiopulmonary arrest due to "excited-agitated delirium" and prone restraint. Douglas Phelps is representing the plaintiff.