Mentally ill woman’s death brings suspension

Cleveland CLEVELAND — police disciplined two officers for their role in the death of Tanisha Anderson, a 37-year-old woman with mentally illness who died in their custody.

Officer Scott Aldridge, 49, was suspended 10 days without pay. Officer Bryan Myers was issued a written warning. Aldridge was Myers’ training officer at the time of the Nov. 13, 2014 incident that ended with Anderson’s death in the driveway of a family member’s home.

A Cuyahoga County grand jury in February cleared the officers of any criminal wrongdoing in the incident. Both officers have been on restricted duty since Anderson’s death.

Cleveland Safety Director Michael McGrath issued the discipline on Monday.

The criminal investigation took more than three years, and several different investigating agencies passed the case along until it ended up with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Their final report pointed to troubling issues with the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s handling of the case. Medical Examiner Thomas Gilson countered that his office followed protocol and did nothing improper.

Anderson’s death helped spark a change in the way Cleveland police officers are trained in handling mental health crises. The city also settled a $2.25 wrongful death lawsuit.

Anderson’s family called the police to help her during a mental-health episode at a family member’s Ansel Road home. Anderson left the Windsor Laurelwood Center for Behavioral Medicine in Willoughby 12 says earlier. It marked her second trip to the mental-health facility in as many months.

Her brother, Joell Anderson, called police about 8:15 p.m. and told dispatchers the family needed help because she was “belligerent, and family members were afraid,” the attorney general said. Two officers arrived and determined that the situation had calmed down. They left by 10 p.m.

Another family member called police about 45 minutes later and said that she was turning on lights and trying to leave the house only wearing a nightgown.

Aldridge and Myers responded and family members let them into the home. The officers and family convinced Anderson to go to the hospital. The officers walked her outside, and she sat in their cruiser with her feet still on the ground.

What happened next is disputed by the officers and witnesses, according to the attorney general’s review.

Anderson got upset. Her brother believed it was because she was in a confined space. The officers told investigators it was because her brother was yelling at her and telling her that she was going to jail. Her brother disputed this claimed. The officers noted that they were not taking her to jail, but to a hospital.

A scuffle ensued and she ended up handcuffed and on the ground.

The officers said Anderson went on the ground on her own and kicked at them while she was on her back, according to the Cuyahoga County sheriff ’s file.