Family, community demand answers in death of 72-year-old Brentwood woman Yolanda Ramirez after police interaction
More than 100 people filled a Brentwood City Council meeting Wednesday night to demand answers in the death of a 72-year-old woman following an interaction with police on September 26.
Family, friends and community members came together for 72-year-old Yolanda Ramirez, rallying ahead of the meeting.
"It just shows the support and love of the community," Ramirez's son Rich said.
"We just want to know what happened to my mom," Ramirez's daughter said.
EXCLUSIVE: New video shows interaction between Bay Area police, 72-year-old woman before her death
"I guarantee you if this was someone in a Mercedes-Benz in a million-dollar home and this was a white woman, this would not have happened and we all know that. She deserved the same treatment," Melissa Nold, the attorney for the family, said.
On September 26, Brentwood police responded to a call for a family dispute between Ramirez and her sister, also in her 70s.
The ABC7 News I-Team obtained exclusive video from that sister showing officers outside the home. When Yolanda moved towards the driver's side of her vehicle a female officer she was speaking with said she was fleeing. Police Officer's Association President Aaron Peachman had also responded to the call and came running out of the house. The officers cuffed Ramirez and brought her to a patrol car.
"They were being pretty rough, for a 72-year-old lady," neighbor Ashley Jeglum said.
According to Brentwood Police, while in the patrol vehicle, Ramirez "appeared to be having a medical issue and police immediately contacted medical personnel."
Her family took her off life support the following week.
Neighbors say officers left Ramirez alone in the vehicle for more than 30 minutes.
Police towed her vehicle, listing willful resistance as the reason.
"Seems like a cover-up, my mom should have never, she should be alive," said Rich Ramirez.
"I can only assume that the officer who handcuffed her and was giving her orders may have been frustrated, maybe became impatient," Yolanda's husband Rudy Ramirez said. "Why?! She didn't kill anybody, she didn't assault anybody. It's a tragedy that the first time she was involved with a police officer that she ended up dying."
After dozens of public comments, the council moved into a closed session.
An attorney for Officer Peachman has said body-worn camera video will show he acted appropriately.
The Contra Costa County DA's Office is investigating, but neighbors say they haven't interviewed any witnesses. The investigation could take up to 6 months.
