November 9th 2024.
It has been reported that Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price is moving forward with plans to bring criminal charges against seven Alameda County sheriff's deputies in connection to the death of Maurice Monk. Monk passed away at the Santa Rita Jail after being neglected for days without proper care or medication. This information was obtained from a memo sent by the sheriff to her staff, which was then obtained by a local newspaper.
The memo reveals that Price called Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez on Friday to inform her of her intentions to pursue criminal charges. However, the memo did not mention the names of the deputies or specify what charges they could potentially face. It is worth noting that this development comes at a crucial time for Price, as early ballot returns show her facing a recall from office, an unprecedented event in the county's history, with a margin of almost 2-to-1 in favor of the recall.
As of early Friday evening, no arrests had been made, according to Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Roberto Morales, who confirmed the authenticity of the memo. In the memo, Sheriff Sanchez defended her deputies, stating that while mistakes were made in their handling of Mr. Monk, they do not amount to criminal negligence. She expressed her disappointment with Price's decision to pursue charges and vowed to support her staff throughout the process.
Price's office has yet to respond to requests for comment on this matter. Monk, who was 45 years old, was found unresponsive in his cell on November 15, 2021, and was declared dead shortly after. This prompted his family to file a lawsuit against the county, resulting in a $7 million settlement. His death sparked outrage among activists who have been advocating for better conditions in the jail, which has seen numerous deaths in the past decade due to drug overdoses, suicides, and other causes.
Monk had been in the Santa Rita Jail for just over a month, on a $2,500 bail while facing a misdemeanor charge for allegedly threatening a bus driver during an argument over wearing a face mask. According to court records, he had been arrested for this incident. The lawsuit filed by his family alleged that security footage showed deputies passing by his cell multiple times in the days leading up to his death, without taking any action. At one point, a deputy even kicked uneaten food from the door before leaving without checking on Monk.
It was also claimed that Monk did not receive necessary medication for his medical conditions, including schizoaffective disorder, despite repeated requests from his sister, Elvira Monk. She told the newspaper that she had called the jail's staff 10 to 15 times, begging them to ensure her brother received his monthly injection for schizophrenia.
David Mastagni, the attorney representing the Deputy Sheriffs' Association of Alameda County, has urged the public not to jump to conclusions and to allow due process to take its course. He believes that the truth will eventually come to light. This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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