Alameda County Prosecutor Pamela Price appears determined to file criminal charges against seven Alameda County sheriff’s deputies in the death of Maurice Monk, who died in Santa Rita Jail after languishing for days without care nor essential medications, according to a note obtained by this newspaper.
Price called Alameda County Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez Friday afternoon and detailed his plans for criminal charges, according to a memo that was later sent by the sheriff to his staff. The memo, obtained by this newspaper, does not name any of the deputies or suggest possible charges they could face.
The development comes just days after early poll results showed Price poised to become the first district attorney in county history to be recalled from office. With nearly 297,000 ballots counted Friday evening, the unprecedented recall measure passed by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.
No arrests had been made as of Friday evening, according to the sergeant. Roberto Morales, a sheriff’s spokesman, confirmed the authenticity of the memo.
In his memo, Sanchez defended the deputies.
“I must acknowledge that errors were made in our treatment of Mr. Monk; however, these errors do not rise to the threshold of criminal negligence,” Sanchez said in his memo. “I am very disappointed in Price’s decision to file charges in this matter, as I believe they are not warranted. I will continue to support our staff through this difficult process.
Price’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Monk, 45, was pronounced dead on November 15, 2021, after he was found face down on a mattress in his cell next to a puddle of urine and uneaten food on the floor, according to a lawsuit filed by his family that resulted in a $7 million settlement with the county. His death became a flashpoint among activists seeking to improve conditions at the prison, where many people have died over the past decade from drug overdoses, suicides and murders.
Monk had been booked into the Santa Rita Jail just over a month earlier and was being held on $2,500 bail while facing a misdemeanor charge of threatening a bus driver. Police arrested him after an argument over whether he should wear a face mask on a bus, according to court records.
Prison security footage later showed officers repeatedly walking past his cell in the days before he was pronounced dead, with some wondering aloud, “Is (Monk) awake?” Is he alive? ”, according to the lawsuit. Despite this, none of them entered his cell to check for themselves, according to the footage. At one point, a deputy threw uneaten food from the doorway before leaving without further action, according to the lawsuit.
Monk’s family also claimed he went without much-needed medication for several health conditions, including schizoaffective disorder. His sister, Elvira Monk, told this newspaper that she called prison staff 10 to 15 times and pleaded with them to make sure Monk received his medications, including a monthly injection often used to treat schizophrenia. .
David Mastagni, the attorney for the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs Association, implored residents not to rush to judgment.
“Everyone has the right to due process,” Mastagni said. “Wait and see and let the truth surface. The truth always surfaces.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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