Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Coroner’s Jury finds death of Walnut Creek man was “At the hands of another person”

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Killed during shooting by police in June

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announced that a Coroner’s Jury reached a finding in the June 2, 2019 death of 23-year-old Miles Anthony Hall of Walnut Creek, following a shooting by police. The finding of the jury is that the death is at the hands of another person, other than by accident. (See related article)

The Coroner’s Jury yesterday reached the 11-0 verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.

A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving police officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: Accident, Suicide, Natural Causes, or At the hands of another person, other than by accident.

Coroner’s inquest jury determines death of homeless man while in Concord police custody in February was an accident

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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announced that a Coroner’s Jury reached a finding in the February 8, 2019 death of 50-year-old Steven Kenneth Hankins, who was homeless and in the custody of the Concord Police at the time. The finding of the jury is that the death is an accident.

The Coroner’s Jury yesterday reached the 12-0 verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.

According to authorities, police were called to the Concord Homeless Shelter at 2047 Arnold Industrial Way where Hankins was yelling and being violent. He was still “acting erratically and being violent” after police arrived, they said. After struggling with police, Hankins showed signs of medical distress. He became unresponsive and police attempted to revive him. Paramedics were called and after they arrived Hankins was declared dead at the scene.

A preliminary coroner’s report found Hankins had a “high concentration of methamphetamine” in his system, according to Concord Police spokesperson Lt. Mike Kindorf.

A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving police officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: accident, suicide, natural causes or at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Coroner’s Inquest Jury finds death of San Ramon man in Martinez jail was an accident

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Karthik Kandaswamy from his LinkedIn account.

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a Coroner’s Jury has reached a finding in the November 4, 2018 death of 26-year-old Karthik Kandaswamy of San Ramon. The finding of the jury is that the death is an accident.

The Coroner’s Jury reached the verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.

Kandaswamy was arrested by San Ramon Police for battery and resisting arrest on Saturday, Nov. 3. He ingested drugs after being booked into the jail and following efforts by sheriff’s deputies and jail medical personnel, was unresponsive and died early in the morning of Nov. 4

According to his LinkedIn account, he was a 2012 graduate of Dougherty Valley High School and earned a degree in computer science and engineering in 2015 from Santa Clara University.

A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in all fatal incidents involving police officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: accident, suicide, natural causes or at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

 

Coroner’s inquest jury finds 2018 death of El Sobrante man was an accident following police pursuit

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Screenshot of an ABC7 News report shows the suspect’s vehicle following the collision which resulted in his death in San Pablo, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018.

Narayan Sanwal from the website for the foundation named in his honor.

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a Coroner’s Jury has reached a finding in the November 27, 2018 death of 29-year-old Narayan Raymond Sanwal of El Sobrante. The finding of the jury is that the death is an accident.

The Coroner’s Jury reached a 12-0 verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.

Sanwal fled from police and crashed his car in San Pablo following a pursuit. (See related article)

A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in all fatal incidents involving police officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: accident, suicide, natural causes or at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

The month following his death, Sanwal’s family formed “The Narayan R. Sanwal Charitable Giving Fund which will be making charitable contributions to organizations who help young people in under-served communities in the areas of sports, fitness and educational programs in the Bay Area and beyond.”

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Coroner’s inquest jury determines 2018 death of Oakley man was an accident

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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a Coroner’s Jury has reached a finding in the October 31, 2018, death of 34-year-old Michael Sanchez Hernandez of Oakley. The finding of the jury is that the death is an accident.

Hernandez was arrested in October 2018 after fighting with his girlfriend over their baby, and four other neighbors. He was taken to a hospital and two days later, died from his injuries.

The Coroner’s Jury reached a 12-0 verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.

A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in all fatal inci-dents involving police officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: accident, suicide, natural causes, or at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Coroner’s Inquest jury finds Oakley man’s death a suicide during San Pablo traffic stop

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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announced that a Coroner’s Jury has reached a finding in the September 28, 2018 death of 41-year-old Marcus Lamont Bray of Oakley. The finding of the jury is that the death is a suicide.

The Coroner’s Jury reached a 12-0 verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.

Bray shot himself during a traffic stop by a San Pablo police officer.

A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in all fatal incidents involving police officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: accident, suicide, natural causes or at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Coroner’s inquest jury rules in Danville officer-involved shooting death of Newark man

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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a Coroner’s Jury has reached a finding in the November 3, 2018 death of 33-year-old Laudemer Atienza Arboleda of Newark. The majority finding of the jury is that the death was at the hands of another person, other than by accident. (See related articles, here and here)

The Coroner’s Jury reached the verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer Matthew Guichard.

A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving peace officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: accident, suicide, natural causes, or at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

Coroner’s Jury finds death of Concord man in county jail was of natural causes

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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a Coroner’s Jury has reached a finding in the September 15, 2018 death of 61-year-old Dwight Dwayne Dunn of Concord while in custody at the county’s Martinez Detention Facility. The finding of the jury is that the death was the result of natural causes.

The Coroner’s Jury reached the verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer Matthew Guichard.

A transient, Dunn was found unresponsive by a sheriff’s deputy conducting a room check at the jail. Fire crews and an ambulance responded, but he was later pronounced dead. An autopsy and toxicology tests were conducted. Dunn had been booked into jail on September 5 for a parole violation.

A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving peace officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding:

accident, suicide, natural causes, or at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

Coroner’s inquest jury confirms Pittsburg man killed during shoot-out with police died “at the hands of another”

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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a Coroner’s inquest jury has reached a finding in the October 22, 2018 death of 37-year-old Salvador Contreras Morales-Cazares of Pittsburg. The finding of the jury is that the death was at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

Contreras was killed during a shoot-out with Pittsburg Police officers, following a domestic dispute that led to a police chase to Concord and back, and then barricading himself in a house.

According to an ABC7 News Report, “Morales eventually walked out of the house and onto the driveway with the gun and didn’t comply with police commands to drop the weapon, according to police. He was shot after he ‘raised the gun and fired towards officers,’ police said.”

The Coroner’s jury reached the verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.

A Coroner’s inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving peace officers, is a public hearing during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding:

Accident, suicide, natural causes, or at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

El Cerrito woman identified as inmate who died at Martinez Detention Facility Saturday

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Arrested for domestic violence by El Cerrito Police Friday night

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

The investigation into yesterday’s in custody death is ongoing. Per the in custody fatal incident protocol, the investigation is being conducted by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Sheriff.

The inmate is identified as 36-year old Maria Barraza of El Cerrito. She was arrested by the El Cerrito Police Department for domestic violence and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility at about 10:39 PM on April 12, 2019.

The next morning at about 3:31 A.M., Deputy Sheriffs responded to the women’s holding area in Intake and found that a female inmate, later identified as Barraza, had apparently hanged herself inside the bathroom

Medical staff at the jail responded immediately and began life saving measures. The fire department and an ambulance also responded. Barraza was pronounced deceased at the scene.

An autopsy is planned for tomorrow, Monday, April 15.