Family of Yolanda Ramirez demands answers from city of Brentwood

BRENTWOOD Family and friends of Yolanda Ramirez a -year-old Brentwood resident who went unconscious in the back of a police car and days later died at the hospital are demanding transparency and accountability from the city and its police department Richie Ramirez her son stated it was a shame that the Brentwood Police Department took more than a month to publicly address an case that occurred on Sept Speaking at a Brentwood City Council special meeting Wednesday Richie Ramirez questioned discrepancies in a announcement issued by the police department on Nov claiming it was full of contradictions He denied that his mother was placed under citizen s arrest following a call from his aunt nor that his mother had attempted to flee from police when they arrived on scene Ramirez also claimed that his mother s condition worsened when she was aggressively forced in the backseat of a police van which differs from the department s comment indicating that his mother s condition worsened at the hospital The society is losing trust The city is digging themselves in a bigger hole What happened to my mom is wrong It should have never happened explained Ramirez I m looking to you as leaders of our neighborhood to do the right thing even if it s unpopular within your own ranks My mom should be alive The population wants answers wants transparency wants accountability Yolanda Ramirez who worked for Contra Costa Soundness Services before her retirement was arrested on Sept on suspicion of a misdemeanor for allegedly yelling outside a family member s home She reportedly experienced a biological urgency and went unconscious while in the back of a patrol car According to a legal claim filed by her family on Nov she had suffered a brain bleed due to the abuse by Brentwood Police Officers and required urgency surgery Ramirez remained on life patronage until her death on Oct Her husband Rudy Ramirez mentioned he lost his wife of years over what seemed to be just an argument with her sister On the day of the happening Ramirez revealed he had coffee with his wife walked her to the door kissed and hugged her That was the last time I saw her alive They took this woman from me the mom for my kids their grandmother I hope that none of you ever ever have to experience anything like this he declared Had I known this was going to happen to my wife I would have revealed Don t go babe stay right here with me Please help us do the job that s supposed to be done Her other son Francisco Ramirez alleged the research into the circumstance was being mishandled by the police and urged that the officers involved be removed from developing duty pending the scrutiny He also urged the immediate release of all relevant documents circumstance reports video footage and dispatch records related to the matter Melissa Nold a Vallejo-based lawyer who filed the legal claim reported the family was not provided any information on what happened to Yolanda Ramirez Instead personnel have questioned the family on what happened explained Nold Nold explained a private investigator has been hired to find out what happened in order to provide answers to the family An elderly woman can t be thrown into a police car like a bag of potatoes physically injured treated like a gang member forced down onto her knees handcuffed so tightly that it dug the skin open on her hands through pure neglect and the family not narrated anything that she laid in the car unconscious for God knows how long disclosed Nold she never woke up The family has the right to know what happened They should have given them specific overview The region had the right to know Brentwood Mayor Susannah Meyer on behalf of the City Council extended empathy to the Ramirez family We also want our locality to know that we heard your comments tonight we are committed to transparency and to ensuring that accurate information is shared as we were able to do so announced Meyer At this time we are continuing to gather and review information and appreciate the neighborhood s patience and understanding as this process continues