From Sandy Louey:
The state attorney's general office has cleared the Woodland Police Department in the May death of Ricardo Abrahams, who died after police shot him repeatedly with Taser stun guns.
Abrahams, a 44-year-old law student who suffered mental disturbances, walked away from a voluntary treatment facility on May 28.
When called to check on his safety, Woodland police officers shot him at least three times with Tasers and hit him with batons after he didn't follow their orders and allegedly became aggressive.
A Yolo County coroner's report concluded Abrahams died of asphyxia.
A review of Abrahams' case found "no criminal conduct on the part of any of the involved officers," Deputy Attorney General David A. Lowe in an Oct. 6 letter sent to the Woodland police.
The Yolo County District Attorney's Office couldn't investigate Abrahams' death since he worked as a part-time intern there.
The attorney general's office made its finding after reviewing the results of an inquiry that the Woodland police did.
Woodland police said an internal investigation found that the actions of the officers involved in the incident were consistent with the department's use of force policies.
"Throughout these investigations I have remained confident our officers acted within the scope and spirit of their authority, even when you do things right, for the right reasons there can be unintended and unexpected outcomes," Woodland Police Chief Carey Sullivan said Thursday in a press release. "In this case it was the most regrettable and unfortunate outcome imaginable."
Johnny L. Griffin III, who represents the Abrahams family, said Friday that there is a question of credibility since the attorney general's office made its decision based on materials that Woodland police provided.
"To a certain extent, the fox may have been in control of guarding the henhouse," Griffin said.
He has requested a copy of the materials that Woodland police submitted to the attorney general's office.
Griffin said he still plans to file a federal lawsuit against Woodland police. In August, the city of Woodland rejected a claim filed by Abrahams' parents.
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