Overview
- The family filed a federal civil rights wrongful-death lawsuit against the City of Brentwood and several officers, alleging excessive force during a Sept. 26 encounter with Yolanda Ramirez.
- Supporters rallied outside the Brentwood Police Department and pressed for body-camera footage that has not been released nearly 100 days after the incident despite California’s typical 45-day disclosure timeline.
- The Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office determined Ramirez died of natural causes, while the family-funded examiner reportedly found a skull fracture, blunt force trauma and signs of asphyxiation.
- The lawsuit names Officer Aaron Peachman, identified by the family as the police union president, and alleges he slammed Ramirez against a patrol car and left her unresponsive in the back seat for about 20 minutes.
- Brentwood police say Ramirez was briefly detained and then released for medical care at the scene, and the city has not released the footage or provided further comment.