Jesse Saenz
Jesse Saenz, 23, died in November 2007. His sister, Monica Saenz, filed a wrongful death lawsuit saying that Raton police officers used Tasers on him and sat on him while he lay face down in a patrol car, and that the force and restraint made it impossible for him to breathe. The lawsuit names the city of Raton, the former police chief and three officers. The Office of Medical Investigator's autopsy found cocaine intoxication but classified the death as a homicide, concluding that police actions contributed to it.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed). The Office of Medical Investigator ruled the death a homicide, citing cocaine intoxication and police actions as contributing factors, while his sister Monica Saenz's wrongful death lawsuit says officers' Taser use and sitting on him in a patrol car made it impossible for him to breathe.
Reported by: Office of Medical Investigator (medical examiner or coroner); Monica Saenz's wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His sister, Monica Saenz, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Raton, its former police chief and three arresting officers.