Andrew Sokolinski
Andrew Sokolinski, 32, was a Boston resident who was visiting his sister in Nueces County, Texas, when he was taken into custody. He died on August 12, 1997, while held at the Nueces County Jail in Corpus Christi, and the death was listed in the Texas Attorney General's custodial deaths report. Testimony in a later lawsuit said guards beat him, strapped him into a restraint chair and sprayed him with pepper spray, and that beatings continued after he was returned to his cell. Photographs shown at trial were described as showing extensive bruising, a broken arm and other injuries. The county settled the family's case in August 2002 for $1.1 million.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed). A news report lists the death as killed by staff, and testimony in the family's later lawsuit says guards beat him, put him in a restraint chair and pepper-sprayed him, with beatings continuing after he was returned to his cell.
Reported by: news report; Texas Office of the Attorney General custodial death report; testimony in the lawsuit Sokolinski v. Nueces County (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued Nueces County and settled the case in August 2002 for $1.1 million.