The family of a woman who died after being released from the Marin County Jail filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Wednesday, July 29, against Marin County and the Central Marin Police Authority, alleging jail staff ignored her worsening medical condition and released her while she was critically ill.
Tammy Manzanilla was arrested Wednesday, April 8, and detained at the Marin County Jail in San Rafael. She died April 11.
According to the lawsuit, announced at the Marin County Civic Center on July 29, law enforcement officials failed to notify a nurse and released Manzanilla from custody while she was in medical crisis.
Manzanilla's sister, Amy Barry, said Manzanilla spent about 18 hours in a sobering cell without medical attention before she was transported to a hospital, where she died shortly afterward, according to Bay City News reporting published by SFGate.
"Attention desperately needs to be drawn to this issue, as more and more families are losing their loved ones in custody due to overdoses, suicide and/or medical neglect," Barry said in an email to Bay City News on Tuesday, July 28.
Barry said her sister had been struggling with addiction and had been living unhoused for over 15 years on the streets of Marin County.
Local police agency named as defendant
The Central Marin Police Authority is the joint-powers police agency that serves Larkspur, Corte Madera, and San Anselmo, covering roughly 35,000 residents. It was formed in January 2013 under a joint powers agreement. The lawsuit does not specify the agency's role in Manzanilla's arrest or detention.
The lawsuit was filed by attorney Christian Contreras, who specializes in civil rights, jail deaths, and wrongful death cases, according to his firm's website.
County responds, CMPA silent
Marin County spokesperson Laine Hendricks issued a written statement Tuesday, July 28, calling Manzanilla's death a profound loss but said neither the county nor the Marin County Sheriff's Office could comment further, citing confidential information and anticipated litigation.
The Central Marin Police Authority had not publicly commented on the lawsuit as of Wednesday, July 29.
The federal court case number was not available at publication time. The family and Contreras spoke publicly at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 29, at the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael.
