Officials in Riverside County did not bring charges against any of the deputies involved in the encounter with the man, Christopher Zumwalt, 39, but quietly agreed in December 2023 to pay $7.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by his family.
Depositions from the case and video footage obtained by The New York Times show the frantic and violent minutes when deputies tried to force Mr. Zumwalt out of his cell as he paced and talked incoherently.
In the video, deputies wearing helmets and shields toss canisters of pepper spray into the small concrete room, struggle with Mr. Zumwalt, and strap him to an emergency restraint chair.
He died on Oct. 25, 2020, after experiencing cardiac arrest.
On the day of his arrest, he was issued a citation for bringing drugs into a jail.
Persons:
Christopher Zumwalt, Zumwalt, incoherently
Organizations:
The New York Times
Locations:
Southern California, Riverside County