Death of a man restrained in a Virginia jail is homicide, authorities say
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — The death of a Virginia man who was restrained in jail has been ruled a homicide, while the deputies involved no longer work for the local sheriff’s office, authorities said Friday.
News outlets in southeastern Virginia report that Rolin Hill, 34, died at a hospital several days after being restrained at the Virginia Beach jail in June.
Hill had been arrested on charges of trespassing, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office said in a statement at the time. The office said Hill was denied bond and booked into the facility, where he became uncooperative and combative.
Hill was restrained before he experienced a medical emergency and was taken to the hospital, the sheriff’s office said in June. Virginia Beach Sheriff Rocky Holcomb said his office was investigating but also asked the Virginia State Police to conduct an independent review,
Donna Price, a spokesperson for the Tidewater Medical Examiner’s Office, told The Virginian-Pilot on Friday that Hill died from “positional and mechanical asphyxia due to restraint with neck and torso compression.”
Holcomb said in a statement Friday that, based on updates from Virginia State Police, the deputies involved were no longer employed by the sheriff’s office.
“We remain committed to justice and transparency, which is why I requested an independent investigation by VSP immediately upon being notified of what occurred on June 4,” Holcomb stated. “Our hearts continue to go out to Mr. Hill’s family during this difficult time.”
State police and the Virginia Beach prosecutor’s office told the Pilot that their investigations into Hill’s death are ongoing.
“Once the VSP turn over their report, we will thoroughly review it,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Office spokesperson Macie Allen said in a statement.
WAVY-TV reported in June that the Virginia Beach chapter of the NAACP had raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding Hill’s death.
The Pilot reported Friday that it had run Hill’s obituary, which said he was an Eagle Scout who loved surfing, skateboarding and hanging out with his family. It also stated that “mental health in America is still a major issue,” and requested that any donations go to mental health foundations.