WASHINGTON 鈥� The family of an Alexandria, Virginia, woman after a struggle with jail guards in Fairfax County has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit Friday against the Fairfax County Sheriff鈥檚 Office.
The family of 37-year-old Natasha McKenna is seeking $15 million for pain and suffering as well as a jury trial in the suit, claiming that the guards acted with 鈥済ross negligence鈥� and 鈥渦tter disregard鈥� during the Feb. 3, 2015, incident.
The complaint alleges that the guards used excessive force and failed to take McKenna鈥檚 safety into account. Also, it alleges that the detention center was not equipped and guards not properly trained to work with someone suffering from a mental crisis.
During the incident that led to McKenna’s death, a special team of guards was called in to assist in the transport of McKenna from the county鈥檚 adult detention center. shows McKenna, who suffered from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, struggling with guards as they attempted to remove her from her cell.
Guards used a stun gun on McKenna four times while she was restrained. She lost consciousness and died several days later.
The family鈥檚 attorney Harvey Volzer said in an email to 海角社区app that McKenna’s mother, Claire Wilson, and young daughter want to see justice for the Alexandria woman.
鈥淣atasha did nothing to warrant being tortured and killed by persons sworn to protect the public,鈥澛燰olzer wrote.
Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid and five members of the sheriff鈥檚 office involved in the incident are named individually in the lawsuit.
The office of Fairfax County Commonwealth鈥檚 Attorney Ray Morrogh investigated the case and determined that . Morrogh called the death a 鈥渢ragic accident鈥� and announced last聽September that no charges would be filed in the case.
Police 1st Lt. Maegan Timothy with the Fairfax County Sheriff鈥檚 Office said the department does not comment on pending litigation.
