by Nick Castele
The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office has completed its investigation into the death of a woman in police custody in 2014.
Thirty-seven-year-old Tanisha Anderson died as police were trying to take her to St. Vincent hospital in November 2014. Officers had responded to a call for a family member in distress, according to police.
The county medical examiner ruled the death a homicide. The cause was ruled to be sudden death, associated with heart disease, bipolar disorder and physical restraint in the prone position.
The county sheriff’s office took over the investigation at the prosecutor’s request in June 2015. County spokeswoman Mary Louise Madigan says the sheriff completed the investigation and turned over the files to Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty.
“On Feb. 16, the sheriff’s department turned the investigation over to the prosecutor,” Madigan said.
The following day, McGinty announced a judge had approved his motion asking the state attorney general’s office to step in as special prosecutor, citing a conflict of interest.
A lawsuit filed by Anderson’s family says police used excessive force, throwing her to the sidewalk. The police union says she fell to the ground.
