Parents File Wrongful Death Suit Against Pleasanton Police, City

PLEASANTON, CA — Parents of a man who died in Pleasanton police custody last year have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and its police department. John and Rose Bauer and their attorneys held a news conference on Thursday in Oakland to discuss the lawsuit over their 38-year-old son Jacob's death.

Jacob Bauer passed away on Aug. 1, 2018 when officers responded to a complaint about him causing a disturbance at the Raley's grocery store on Sunol Boulevard. The Alameda County coroner's report states the cause of his death as a methamphetamine overdose, while the family argues that his death was a direct result of his interactions with police, in accordance with the
findings of a second, independent autopsy performed in September at the family's request.

The lawsuit alleges that officers restrained Jacob's hands and legs, put a spit mask over his face, and used a stun gun on him several times without a legitimate reason. The family says they contacted the police about their son's condition on four separate occasions leading up to the day of his death.

Rose Bauer accused police of being insensitive and condescending and alleged that one officer told them "Jacob needs to hit rock bottom before he can get help" and suggested in one of those four encounters that they evict their son.

Prior to his passing, Jacob worked as a contracted employee for the file hosting company Dropbox. A few weeks before the incident, his coworkers alerted the police and officers reached out to the family about their concern, the Bauers said.

Jacob was never diagnosed with mental illness because the family was not able to convince him to seek help, Rose Bauer said. They wanted to keep him close to avoid any incidents with police since the family already feared an altercation could be fatal.

"We want to make sure Jacob Bauer did not die in vain," said Jayme Walker, an attorney representing the family. Walker said she hopes that the lawsuit will spark conversation and initiate change in the way officers handle people with mental illness.

Officials with the city of Pleasanton and its Police Department were not immediately available to comment on the case.

—Bay City News