The Brentwood Police Department has released body camera footage of a 72-year-old woman’s arrest last year, which her family claims contributed to her death.
The video captures Yolanda Ramirez speaking with an officer who mentions they aim to gather information about the situation. Ramirez reports that someone was “banging on the door,” but she denies kicking it.
The officer explains that Ramirez’s sister had called 911, warning that if the situation wasn’t resolved, the police would be called again.
The footage reveals Ramirez slumped in the police car, appearing to fall and hit her head. When the officer attempted to close the door, she stretched her legs to stop it.
As the officer requested her name and date of birth, Ramirez shared her name but started moving towards her car, insisting she had lived there “all his life.”
The officer noted that this information had already been given and pressed for it again. Ultimately, Ramirez only disclosed her age and month of birth.
The officer remarked, “You want to do something difficult.” Ramirez countered, “No, I don’t want to make things difficult, but I also don’t want to be questioned.”
After some time, she attempted to leave. Another officer discussed the potential for a citizen’s arrest with her sister while a third officer was nearby.
When the officer moved to arrest her, he instructed her to put her hands behind her back. After she failed to comply, he shouted “no” and pulled her arm. They claimed she was obstructing an investigation before handcuffing her.
The video shows officers guiding Ramirez towards a patrol car and, during the attempt to seat her, she seemingly fell and hit her head on the vehicle. One officer pushed her legs while another pulled her arms to force her into the seat.
After several minutes, when she appeared to struggle with her breathing, officers tried to prop her up, removed her handcuffs, and called for paramedics.
Tragically, Ramirez passed away seven days later. Her family has since filed a wrongful death suit against both the city of Brentwood and the police involved.
Her son stated that an independent autopsy revealed serious injuries and signs of asphyxiation. He expressing anguish, saying, “I saw my mother die twice. I witnessed her take her last breath in the squad car, and then I was there again for her final breath.”
The nearly hour-long video was made public following a rally in January that called for greater transparency and the release of the body camera footage.
In response, the Brentwood Police asserted that the release aligns with their commitment to transparency, as noted in their media statement. Additionally, they stated that the Ramirez family was given the chance to view the footage privately before it was made available to others.
The family continues to demand criminal charges against the officers involved, while the Brentwood Police Chief has refrained from commenting due to ongoing litigation and investigations.
