Ryan Ellis
Ryan Ellis is remembered by his family through the lawsuit they filed; his father wrote that he lost the companionship of his son, and his mother has been deeply affected by his death, according to a family friend. On May 5, 2017, Ryan Ellis died of critical injuries after he kicked out the rear window of a Sacramento County patrol car and jumped out while being driven toward the county jail; he had been treated at a hospital the day before. A county inspector general report found the deputy did not stop the car, did not seat-belt him, and did not turn on the in-car camera, and the deputy was reprimanded. The family's lawsuit says he was thrown from the car and seeks $10 million from the county.
Cause of death, as reported: Died in an accident (disputed; neglect alleged). The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department says he kicked out the patrol car's rear window and jumped, his parents' lawsuit says he was thrown from the moving car, and a county inspector general found the deputy did not stop, did not seat-belt him, and did not turn on the in-car camera.
Reported by: Sacramento County Sheriff's Department (the agency that held him); county inspector general; his parents' wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His parents sued over his death, seeking $10 million in damages.