The Alameda County District Attorney dropped felony charges on Thursday against eight staffers of a Santa Rita jail in connection with the 2021 death of Maurice Monk, a man who died in custody after allegedly being left unresponsive for days.
Three other staffers still face felony charges of dependent adult abuse and neglect.
Monk’s family attended the hearing at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland and told KQED they were heartbroken when they learned the news.
“The people who should have got charged and already got away with my brother’s murder — they still got a job, they’re still living their life,” Tiffany Monk said. “There’s no justice in this so-called justice system that we’re supposed to have.”
Charges against nine jail deputies and two health care workers were first filed last November by former district attorney Pamela Price, just days after Alameda County voters recalled her. On Thursday, prosecutors said in court that there was insufficient evidence to charge all 11 staff members.
Monk was found dead in his cell after days of neglect by jail staff, according to court documents. Tiffany Monk, Maurice’s younger sister, told KQED her brother suffered from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and high blood pressure.
Security footage of Santa Rita Jail revealed deputies and nurses throwing pill cups into his cell. Body camera footage from Nov. 11, 2021, showed a deputy county sheriff officer knocking on Monk’s cell asking if he wanted his medicine. The officer can be heard commenting to the nurse that Monk is “butt-naked and asleep.”
This continued for days, until Monk’s death on Nov. 15.
Sheriff’s deputies Donall Rowe, Robinderpal Hayer and former deputy Thomas Mowrer will continue to face felony charges in Monk’s death. Hayer also faces charges of falsifying documents.
Alameda County Deputy District Attorney dismissed charges against Alameda County Behavioral Health clinician Dr. Neal Edwards, Wellpath nurse David E. Donoho and Alameda County Sheriff’s Deputies Ross Burruel, Andre Gaston, Syear Osmani, Mateusz Laszuk, Troy White and Christopher Haendel.
Monk’s sister said the family learned of the prosecutors’ decision on Wednesday — Monk’s birthday.
Monk’s family reached a $7 million settlement with Alameda County, but Monk said her family never received an apology.
Before and after the hearing on Thursday, Monk’s children, siblings and supporters rallied outside of the courthouse, holding a banner that said “Justice for Maurice Monk,” and signs with the names of the 11 staff members originally charged.
The protesters eyed a small group of Sheriff’s Deputies who stood outside of the hearing. Tiffany Monk said the family was warned there would be several cops at the hearing for protection, but she said it wasn’t made clear to her who they were protecting.
“We just want justice,” Monk said. “They’re the one that did something wrong, but y’all are looking at us like we’re the criminals, like we’re about to attack them.”
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