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

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A coroner’s jury ruled Wednesday that the death of Yolanda Ramirez, 72, was an accident, one day after prosecutors said a stroke, rather than police restraint, caused her death.

Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston announced the jury’s finding after a public inquest into Ramirez’s encounter with Brentwood police. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday it would take no further action against 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,” prosecutors wrote in their report.

Officers detained Ramirez outside her sister’s Brentwood home on Sept. 26, 2025, following a family dispute over the well-being of their brother, who had dementia-like symptoms. Body camera footage showed officers handcuff Ramirez after she tried to leave. She allegedly struck her head on the outside of a patrol car during the arrest.

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.

Melissa Nold, an attorney for the family, disputed the district attorney’s decision. “This is after her office failed to investigate the case at all until there was public pressure, a second autopsy and I had investigated,” she wrote in a social media post.

District Attorney Diana Becton ordered the public inquest in May after Ramirez’s family accused officers of using excessive force. A July inquest ended with seven jurors finding that Ramirez died of natural causes and eight finding that her death was an accident. The information provided does not explain how that split finding relates to Wednesday’s ruling.

Ramirez’s family has filed a claim against Brentwood and the officers alleging wrongful death, elder abuse, battery, false arrest, and violations of federal civil rights protections.

Bay City News contributed to this report.
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