Charges in death of man ‘abandoned’ at Detroit-area jail

A police officer and two paramedics failed to help a man who was convulsing for more than an hour and who eventually died from cocaine toxicity at a Detroitarea jail, a prosecutor said Monday as she filed involuntary manslaughter charges against the trio. William Marshall, who was in custody for drug possession, died in the Westland police lock-up in December, Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy said.

A state police investigation showed an “inexcusable and criminal disregard for human life from those who have a duty to serve him, protect him and render aid,” Worthy said.

She said video of the incident is a “critical part of the evidence.” Involuntary manslaughter charges were filed against Sgt. Ronald Buckley and paramedics Matt Dicosola and Leah Maynard. They didn’t immediately appear in court. A message seeking comment was left for Westland police Chief Jeff Jedrusik. He has acknowledged that Marshall, 35, should have been taken to a hospital earlier that day. The city in May agreed to a $3.75 million settlement with Marshall’s family, with much of the money coming from insurance coverage. The paramedics told Buckley they could take Marshall to a hospital, but the sergeant waved them off, Worthy said. Nonetheless, she added, that doesn’t clear them.

“The paramedics still have a duty to render aid and assistance,” the prosecutor said. “They abandoned him, according to the facts of our investigation . ... They are criminally responsible.” Separately, Worthy said no charges would be filed in the fentanyl-related death of a man at an Ecorse police lock-up in June 2017. Although Ecorse officers should have noticed that Frank Porter wasn’t moving in his cell, she said, the delay did not contribute to his death.