William Coupchiak
William Coupchiak, 28, called 911 in December 2015 saying he was suicidal, needed medical attention and had taken too many drugs. His lawyer, George McCoy, said he was reaching out for help and suffered from mental illness. He died on December 31, 2015, at the Justice Center jail in Portland, and McCoy said he died of a drug overdose. A federal lawsuit filed by his widow says he did not receive the overdose care he had requested, and it names Portland police, American Medical Response and the sheriff's office.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). His lawyer, George McCoy, says he died of a drug overdose, and his widow's federal lawsuit says jail staff did not give him the overdose care he had requested after he said he had taken too many drugs.
Reported by: his lawyer, George McCoy (family or their lawyers); his widow's federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His widow filed a federal lawsuit over his death, naming the Portland police, American Medical Response and the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.