Brentwood grandmother’s causes of death released by DA
Sep 22, 2026
(KRON) -- A 72-year-old Brentwood grandmother's causes of death were released by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office in a report released Tuesday.
Yolanda Bustos Ramirez died on October 3rd, 2025, six days after she suffered a medical emergency while Brentwood police officers arres
ted her outside Ramirez's sister's house for a family dispute. Ramirez was handcuffed and sitting inside a patrol car when "her breathing grew slower and shallower, and her speech became incomplete and incoherent," the report states.
At John Muir Health Walnut Creek Medical Center, she was diagnosed with an intraparenchymal hemorrhage, which is bleeding inside the brain, according to the report.
The DA's report lists two -- very different -- causes of death that were determined separately by two forensic pathologists.
"On October 4th, 2025, Forensic Pathologist Dr. James Caruso conducted an autopsy of Ramirezand concluded that her death was caused by a cerebrovascular accident, or stroke, withhypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and obesity as othersignificant preexisting conditions," the report states.
"On October 26th, 2025, a second forensic pathologist, Dr. Matthias Okoye, conducted a privateautopsy of Ramirez and concluded that her death was due to 'multiple blunt force trauma andasphyxiation with complications all due to, and as a consequence of, police restraint,'" the report continues.
The District Attorney's Office said its investigation concluded that the grandmother "died from a stroke and other health-related conditions" and not from police officers committing excessive force.
Brentwood Police Department Officers Aaron Peachman and Danielle Tjhia had the legal authority to detain and arrest the elderly woman, and they used "objectively reasonable force" to detain and arrest her, the DA's report concludes.
The DA's office said prosecutors will take no further action on the case.
CCCDAO released the following timeline for September 26, 2025:
10:30 a.m.: The grandmother's sister called Brentwood police to report a family dispute with Ramirez, who was outside the caller's home banging on the front door. Dispatchers advised responding officers that the sound of a verbal argument and banging could be heard in the background of the call.
10:49 a.m.: BPD Officers Aaron Peachman and Danielle Tjhia arrived and found Ramirez standing in the driveway. Ramirez's sister "told Officer Peachman that a dispute arose over who was responsible for driving their brother to a medical appointment," the DA's office wrote.
When Peachman told Ramirez to sit down and said she was not free to leave, Ramirez attempted to leave the scene and resisted arrest, the report states.
10:59 a.m.: the grandmother asked officers, "Why am I going to be arrested?" An officer said for impeding a police investigation.
"Officers moved her hands behind her back, handcuffed her, and escorted her to the patrol vehicle. Approximately two to three feet from the door, Ramirez dropped to her knees and struck the left side of her face against the vehicle’s interior, crying out in pain," the report states.
11:04 a.m.: Ramirez was sitting in the back of the patrol car. She repeatedly asked to be uncuffed, given water, and allowed to call family.
11:14 a.m.: "Her condition declined. As captured on the interior video camera in the patrol vehicle, her breathing grew slower and shallower, and her speech became incomplete and incoherent," the report states.
11:21 a.m.: Officers called for medical assistance.
11:29 a.m.: paramedics arrived and transported the grandmother to a hospital.
She received medical treatment for several days and died on Oct. 3, 2025.
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