Family Files Claim After Man Dies in Custody
The family of a man who died after being pepper-sprayed has filed a $2.75-million claim for damages against the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department and the county.
Mark Martel, the attorney for Fernando Cazares’ family, said the claim may be followed by a lawsuit. Cazares, 36, stopped breathing after two deputies doused him with pepper spray, pushed him to the ground and handcuffed him outside his home March 15.
An autopsy determined that Cazares died of a heart attack caused by cocaine intoxication. Pepper-spray inhalation and the physical struggle contributed to his death, the report said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
