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M O N D AY, J U N E 05- J U N E 11, 2023
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Families sue Riverside County, sheriff over overdose, suicide deaths in jails By City News Service
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amilies of three inmates who died while in custody at Riverside County correctional facilities filed federal civil rights lawsuits Wednesday against the county and Sheriff Chad Bianco over what the plaintiffs allege were failures to ensure the defendants received appropriate treatment. Relatives of 25-yearold Abel Anthony Chacon, 31-year-old Mario Solis and 20-year-old Michael Vasquez are seeking unspecified damage awards and other concessions from the county and sheriff’s department stemming from their deaths in 2022. The same attorneys representing the plaintiffs filed an analogous civil action in federal court in March on behalf of the family of 29-year-old Richard Matus Jr., who died on Aug. 11, 2022, at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta. “This action seeks to bring to public light the deliberate disregard for safety and protection carried out by the individual defendants in this
action,” according to one of the lawsuits. Each suit lists a range of causes, largely based on alleged violations of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which requires equal treatment under the law. However, there are also allegations of breaches of the California Civil Code, deprivations tied to alleged medical negligence and policy malfeasance. Chacon died on Aug. 25, 2022, from a drug overdose in his cell at the Byrd Detention Center, according to his family’s 53-page suit. Solis died by suicide, stuffing a pencil and other items down his throat, at the Murrieta jail, on Sept. 3, 2022, according to his family’s 59-page suit. Velasquez died from a drug overdose on May 26, 2022, at the same facility, according to his family’s 52-page suit. Jail booking information indicated that Chacon was awaiting disposition of an attempted murder case, while Solis was facing charges related to a robbery. No details were available
The Cois M. Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta. | Photo courtesy of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
regarding Velasquez. All of the civil actions point to circumstances similar to Matus’ case, with the plaintiffs alleging the men endured medical emergencies, sometimes days ahead of their deaths, but the obvious signs were
overlooked or misinterpreted by correctional staff, and as a consequence, they died. Neither the county Executive Office nor sheriff’s department immediately responded to a request for comment. Matus was awaiting
adjudication of charges of attempted murder and armed robbery for a 2018 holdup at a Banning medical marijuana dispensary that left three people seriously injured. His brother and co-defendant, 23-year-old Raymond Matus, is slated
to be tried in August on the same charges. The plaintiffs allege jail staff were deficient in their response to the inmates, and pointed to wider, See Jails Page 28
Popular hiking sites closed for duration of wildfire season
2 transients arrested in connection with Riverside building fire
By City News Service
By Staff
iverside County Fire Department Chief Bill Weiser on Thursday officially closed access to multiple outdoor recreational locations for the duration of Southern California Wildfire Season to minimize public safety risks. The chief received authorization from the Board of Supervisors last week to implement the closures, a practice that began in 2007. The designated grounds are located mainly in the central and southwest portions of the county, and they’re expected to remain offlimits until at least November. “Riverside County experienced heavier rain than usual this year, which has led to a larger grass crop,” Weiser said. “This creates a greater chance of large, damaging wildfires. I urge all residents and visitors to be fire smart and use caution when enjoying our beautiful outdoor recreation areas. Your diligence and vigilance helps keep our communities and firefighters safe.”
uthorities on Wednesday arrested two transients suspected of starting a fire in an abandoned building last month. The Riverside Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing Team and Riverside Fire Department arson investigators collaboratively developed information that led to identifying two local homeless men believed to have been involved in setting the fire, according to Riverside city officials. Both suspects were arrested in the 2900 block of Iowa Avenue — 41-year-old Isaac Gutierrez Avila of Riverside was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for arson and several misdemeanor warrants, officials said. He was still in custody, held on $50,000 bail. Pasha Sadavandi, 40, of Riverside, was also booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center as an accessory to arson, and was still in custody held on $25,000 bail. On May 16 at approximately 4:46 a.m., Riverside public safety dispatchers received
See Wildfire Page 27
See Building fire Page 27
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