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OFFICE OF THE <br />DISTRICT ATTORNEY <br />ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA <br />TODD SPITZER <br />February 16, 2023 <br />Chief of Police David Valentin <br />Santa Ana Police Department <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />Re: Custodial Death on 1 1/04/2020 <br />Death of Inmate: <br />District Attorney Investigations Case # 20-027 <br />Santa Ana Police Department Case # 20-23197 <br />Orange County Crime Laboratory Case # 20-53528 <br />Chief Vafentin, <br />Please acceptthis letterdetailing the Orange County DistrictAttorney's (OCDA) Office's investigation and legal conclusions <br />concerning the November 4, 2020, custodial death of 47-year-old inmate In sum, the investigation <br />revealed evidence that the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) breached its duty of care to however the OCDA <br />cannot prove that the breach caused death. Consequently, there is an insufficient basis upon which to find criminal <br />culpability for death on the part of any SAPD personnel or those under the supervision of the SAPD. <br />OVERVIEW <br />This letter contains a description of the scope of OCDA's investigation of the custodial death of a <br />summary of the subsequent legal analysis, and the resulting legal conclusions concerning any potential criminal liability. <br />In this letter; the OCDA describes the criminal investigative methodology employed, evidence examined, witnesses <br />interviewed, facts discovered, and the legal principles applied to review the conduct of all SAPD personnel involved with <br />this custodial death incident as well as any other individuals under the supervision of the SAPD. <br />On November 4, 2020, OCDA Special Assignments Unit (OCDASAU) Investigators responded to Orange County Global <br />Medical Center (OCGMC) where died after receiving medical aid. had been in custody at the Santa Ana <br />Police Department Detention Facility and was found in his cell suspended above the floor by a ligature around his neck, <br />The ligature had been formed with a bed sheet. During the course of this investigation, the OCDASAU interviewed 19 <br />witnesses, and obtained and reviewed reports from SAPD and the Orange County Crime Laboratory (OCCL), as well as <br />incident scene photographs, and other relevant materials. <br />The OCDA conducted an independent and thorough investigation of the facts and circumstances of this event and <br />impartially reviewed all evidence and appfied all relevant legal standards. The scope and findings of this review are <br />expressly limited to determining whetherany criminal conduct occurred on the part of SAPD personnel or anyothers acting <br />under the supervision of the SAPD. The OCDA will not be addressing any possible issues related to policy, training, <br />REPLY TO: ORANGE COllNTf DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WEB PAGE: http:noran(lecoumvda,oif <br />[X iaiuomce € NORTH OFFICE <br />3o@ N. FLI)WER 8ET <br />Pl:l.BaX8 <br />8AhffA AHA, aA W702 <br />(7M) 834-3mO <br />1275 N. 8ERKEljY AVE <br />FUlLERTON, CA 92832 <br />1714) 77>4]80 <br />€ WESTOFFICE <br />8141 13"18TREET <br />WESTMIN!)TER, OA 92(183 <br />(7111) 896-7261 <br />€ HARBOROFFICE <br />4601 JAMBORE! RD. <br />N5WF'ORT BEACH, CA g2u0 <br />(940) 476-4850 <br />€ JUVENILEOFFICE <br />341 CITY DRIVE SOIITH <br />ORANGE. CA g28fl8 <br />(714) 935-7624 <br />€ CENTRALOFFICE <br />40t CMC CENTER DR. W <br />p.o. aox aoa <br />SANTA ANA, CA 92701 <br />i7%)834-3952