Egidio Batista
Egidio Batista, 59, was taken into protective custody by New Bedford police in July 2013 after his daughter called them when he was drunk and disruptive at her home. He was placed in a cell at the Ash Street Jail with four other people, where a cellmate shoved him and he fell and hit his head on the floor. He was taken to hospital for emergency surgery and died the next day, on July 21, 2013. His daughter sued the city and the sheriff's office, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court allowed the case to proceed, writing that a county jail is not a police station.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court says a cellmate shoved Batista and he hit his head on the cell floor, causing fatal head trauma.
Reported by: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (court).
Lawsuit: His daughter sued the city of New Bedford and the sheriff's office, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court allowed the case to proceed, with no settlement or award amount reported.