Family of inmate who died at Santa Cruz County Jail files lawsuit
Family of Tamario Smith, sues Santa Cruz County Jail along with others.
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) The family of Tamario Smith has filed a lawsuit against the Santa Cruz County Jail and other agencies, alleging longstanding and systemic deficiencies that ultimately lead to the death of Tamario Smith.
Tamario Smith was only 20 years old when he was found facedown in his cell, surrounded by a mysterious liquid and his own body fluids. Smith was being held on a felony charge at the Santa Cruz County Jail.
Dr. Katz, the psychologist who was assigned to examine Smith, was their establish whether Smith suffered from a psychiatric illness and recommend a course of treatment.
Family files lawsuit in Santa Cruz County jail death [Santa Cruz Sentinel, Calif.]
Feb. 4 SANTA CRUZ The family of a 21-year-old man found dead while alone inside his jail cell in May has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against Santa Cruz County.
Jailed in February, several months after his 21st birthday, Tamario Smith died on Mother’s Day from what the Santa Cruz County Coroner’s Office classified as an accidental death caused by over-consumption of water in a short period of time.
“The over-consumption of water was influenced by Mr. Smith’s underlying mental health issues,” according to a June 18Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office press release. “This water consumption led to an electrolyte imbalance, which caused Mr. Smith’s organs to fail, leading to Mr. Smith’s death.”