BRENTWOOD – Family and friends of Yolanda Ramirez, a 72-year-old Brentwood resident who went unconscious in the back of a police car and days later died at the hospital, are demanding transparency and accountability from the city and its police department.
Richie Ramirez, her son, said it was a “shame” that the Brentwood Police Department took more than a month to publicly address an incident that occurred on Sept. 26.
Speaking at a Brentwood City Council special meeting Wednesday, Richie Ramirez questioned discrepancies in a statement issued by the police department on Nov. 5, claiming it was “full of contradictions.”
He denied that his mother was placed under citizen’s arrest following a call from his aunt, nor that his mother had attempted to flee from police when they arrived on scene.
Ramirez also claimed that his mother’s condition worsened when she was “aggressively forced” in the backseat of a police vehicle, which differs from the department’s statement indicating that his mother’s condition worsened at the hospital.
“The community is losing trust. The city is digging themselves in a bigger hole. What happened to my mom is wrong. It should have never happened,” said Ramirez. “I’m looking to you as leaders of our community to do the right thing, even if it’s unpopular within your own ranks. My mom should be alive. The community wants answers, wants transparency, wants accountability.”
Yolanda Ramirez, who worked for Contra Costa Health Services before her retirement, was arrested on Sept. 26 on suspicion of a misdemeanor for allegedly yelling outside a family member’s home.
She reportedly experienced a medical emergency and went unconscious while in the back of a patrol car.
According to a legal claim filed by her family on Nov. 3, she had suffered a brain bleed “due to the abuse by Brentwood Police Officers” and required emergency surgery.
Ramirez remained on life support until her death on Oct. 3.
Her husband, Rudy Ramirez, said he lost his wife of 54 years over what seemed to be “just an argument” with her sister.
On the day of the incident, Ramirez said he had coffee with his wife, walked her to the door, kissed and hugged her.
“That was the last time I saw her alive. They took this woman from me, the mom for my kids, their grandmother…I hope that none of you ever, ever have to experience anything like this,” he said. “Had I known this was going to happen to my wife, I would have said, ‘Don’t go, babe, stay right here with me.’ Please help us, do the job that’s supposed to be done.”
Her other son, Francisco Ramirez, alleged the investigation into the incident was being mishandled by the police and urged that the officers involved be removed from active duty pending the investigation.
He also urged the immediate release of all relevant documents, incident reports, video footage, and dispatch records related to the incident.
Melissa Nold, a Vallejo-based lawyer who filed the legal claim, said the family was not provided any information on what happened to Yolanda Ramirez. Instead, authorities have questioned the family on what happened, said Nold.
Nold said a private investigator has been hired to find out what happened, in order to provide answers to the family.
“An elderly woman can’t be thrown into a police car like a bag of potatoes, physically injured, treated like a gang member, forced down onto her knees, handcuffed so tightly that it dug the skin open on her hands through pure neglect and the family not told anything that she laid in the car unconscious for God knows how long,” said Nold. “… she never woke up. The family has the right to know what happened. They should have given them some overview. The community had the right to know.”
Brentwood Mayor Susannah Meyer, on behalf of the City Council, extended empathy to the Ramirez family.
“We also want our community to know that we heard your comments tonight, we are committed to transparency and to ensuring that accurate information is shared as we were able to do so,” said Meyer. “At this time, we are continuing to gather and review information and appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as this process continues.”