Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 09/18/2009

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Terry Menshek - (707) 565-3098 Media Spokesperson, Deputy District Attorney Tashawn Sanders

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

NO CRIMINAL LIABILITY IN JAIL DEATH OF SAMUEL CASTILLO-MARTINEZ

On March 13, 2008, between 5:40 and 5:50 a.m., several inmates at the North County Detention Facility, an off-site facility under the umbrella of the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility, notified a correctional deputy that inmate Samuel Castillo-Martinez, 36, was having a hard time breathing. Mr. Castillo-Martinez was in the detention facility for spousal battery and violation of probation. The deputy immediately responded and radioed for back-up and a medic. He found inmate Martinez pale, sweating, moaning, and then becoming unresponsive. Correctional deputies responded and immediately began life-saving efforts.  Deputies, along with an on-site nurse, continued CPR until the fire department and paramedics arrived to administer advanced life support. Mr. Martinez never regained a pulse and was ultimately pronounced deceased, at the hospital, less than an hour after he was found.

An autopsy revealed no signs of foul play or involvement by another person in his death. Toxicology results based on a sample of Mr. Martinez’ blood were negative for drugs or alcohol. The forensic pathologist conducting the autopsy concluded that Mr. Martinez likely died of unspecified natural causes.

The role of the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office in a law enforcement employee-involved fatal incident is to review the investigation to determine if there exists any criminal liability on the part of anyone, including law enforcement employees. After receipt of the final supplemental reports in March 2009, and a thorough review of the investigation, the District Attorney found no evidence of criminal liability on the part of any member of the Sheriff’s department, any of Mr. Martinez’ fellow inmates, or any other person in relation to Mr. Martinez’ death. The evidence revealed that Sheriff’s Department personnel acted with due care and circumspection. They took prompt, reasonable, and appropriate steps in administering life support and in seeking additional medical assistance. Since Mr. Martinez’ death was not the result of criminal conduct, no further action will be taken by the District Attorney’s Office regarding his death.