Walter Roches
Walter Roches was held at the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose and died in his cell on September 28, 2015. A week earlier, officers used pepper spray, tear gas and rubber projectiles to remove him from his cell, and staff described him as catatonic as he was moved toward the psychiatric ward. KQED reported that he had a long history of mental illness, and advocates and the Prison Law Office said he had untreated psychosis and too little psychiatric care. KQED, citing the autopsy report by Assistant Medical Examiner Dr. Michelle Jorden, reported that the medical examiner attributed his death to untreated mental illness and sepsis from an untreated urinary tract infection, and said the force would have accelerated the process. The FBI was reported to be investigating.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The medical examiner, Dr. Michelle Jorden, attributed the death to untreated mental illness and sepsis from an untreated urinary tract infection, while the force used on him a week earlier may have accelerated it, and the FBI investigated, though no cause was publicly disclosed by the sheriff's office.
Reported by: Assistant Medical Examiner Dr. Michelle Jorden (medical examiner or coroner); Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him).