David Silva, 33

Bakersfield, California
May 08, 2013

Agencies: Kern County Sheriff's Office California

Cause of death: Beating


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Last updated: about 2 years ago

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Overview

A half-dozen Kern County sheriff’s deputies were across the street beating a man with clubs and kicking him, she said. So she whipped out her mobile phone and began to video the episode, announcing to the officers what she was doing.

For about eight minutes, Ms. Melendez said, the man screamed and cried for help. Then he went silent, she said, making only choking sounds.

Finally, having hogtied him, a number of witnesses said, two officers picked up the man and dropped him, twice. One deputy nudged the man with his foot. When he did not respond, they began CPR.

Dec 2021 - NY Times article discusses damage done to David Silva and the roles that doctors and other specialists play in exonerating police for deaths in custody

Legal Action

May 2016 Settlement $3.4million

 

Community and Family Efforts

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