Jury Rules Police Didn't Cause Elderly Woman's Death During Arrest In East Bay

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA —Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said the 2025 death of a 72-year-old woman one week after her arrest by Brentwood police was caused by a stroke rather than by police restraint.

The decision means prosecutors will not seek charges against Brentwood police officers Aaron Peachman and Danielle Tjhia.

"While incredibly tragic, Yolanda Ramirez died from a stroke and other health-related issues, as opposed to police use of force," the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office wrote in a report.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday it would take no further action against the two officers.

Split Jury, Disputed Findings

Tjhia and Peachman detained Yolanda Ramirez outside her sister's Brentwood home on Sept. 26, 2025.

Camera footage showed Peachman and Tjhia handcuffing Ramirez after she tried to leave her sister's Brentwood house following a family dispute over the well-being of their brother, who suffered from dementia-like symptoms.

Officers left Ramirez in the car for 20 minutes. Patrol car footage showed her slumped and unresponsive when they returned. She was taken to a hospital and died Oct. 3.

The county coroner’s autopsy attributed her death to a stroke, found no bruising on her head, and classified the death as natural.

An independent autopsy obtained by Ramirez’s family concluded that she suffered blunt force trauma to the head and classified her death as a homicide.

The family’s autopsy also concluded that the way officers restrained Ramirez, pressure on her body, and her injuries impaired her breathing.

District Attorney Diana Becton ordered a public inquest in May after Ramirez’s family accused officers of using excessive force.

The her husband filed a claim against Brentwood and the officers alleging wrongful death, elder abuse, battery, false arrest, and violations of federal civil rights protections.

A July inquest ended with seven jurors finding that Ramirez died of natural causes and eight finding that her death was an accident.

The jury split 8–7: Eight jurors found that her death was an accident, while seven found that it resulted from natural causes. None found that she died “at the hands of another” or by suicide.

Melissa Nold, an attorney representing the Ramirez family, said Becton made the wrong call in the finding of death due to natural causes.

Bay City News contributed to this report.
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