The man who died in law enforcement custody earlier this year after being pulled from a Ukiah creekbed succumbed to an accidental drug overdose, according to a press release issued Tuesday by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
The decedent, identified in a prior Sheriff’s Office release as 29-year-old Emil Redzic of Ukiah, died on the night of February 26 after being arrested by deputies near Orr Creek Bridge. A June 17 update from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office stated that Redzic’s official cause of death was acute combined methamphetamine and GHB toxicity, and that the manner of death was ruled an accident by the forensic pathologist.
The investigation, led by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and conducted under the county’s Officer-Involved Fatal Incident Protocol, began with a 9-1-1 hang-up call traced to an apartment complex on Brush Street. Deputies responding to the scene encountered Redzic, who fled on foot. According to the Sheriff’s Office press release, deputies recognized him from prior contacts and knew he was on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS). A stolen pickup truck linked to Redzic was also recovered from the complex parking lot.
Roughly two hours after the initial encounter, at around 10:15 p.m., law enforcement received reports of a man yelling in the creekbed near Orr Creek Bridge—less than a quarter mile from the original scene. As outlined in the Sheriff’s Office’s latest release, Redzic was located in the water, uncooperative and displaying symptoms of an altered mental state. Law enforcement entered the creek to detain him, and after handcuffing him, noticed he was experiencing a medical emergency.
According to the June 17 Sheriff’s Office press release, deputies removed the handcuffs, administered multiple doses of Narcan, and initiated CPR. Redzic showed a positive response to the Narcan, but his condition remained critical. He was transported to Adventist Health Ukiah Valley, where medical personnel attempted further life-saving measures. He was pronounced dead at 11:04 p.m.
At the time, the Sheriff’s Office announced it had launched a coroner’s investigation and notified the District Attorney’s Office, Ukiah Police Department, and California Highway Patrol, all of whom had officers on scene. An autopsy was performed on March 3, but the cause and manner of death were not released until the toxicology results were finalized—information now publicly shared in the June 17 press release.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office had previously withheld Redzic’s cause of death, citing pending forensic analysis. With the latest update, the agency emphasized there were no indications of foul play and that the overdose was unintentional, marking the case as closed.
Why is it EVERY DEATH that involves law enforcement is blamed on an overdose? Take the latest death in willits- how many times was he tazed? Honestly!?! We will never know because cops huddle up and decide how to make the reports. Almost word for word. Anyone with common sense knows stories can be similar, but not exactly the same word for word. Leaving out the parts that would most likely end their career. But, I bet no one has heard of the recent death inside the MCSO jail, and how bad their medical personnel are. Too much abuse, and too many deaths. I pity all those in that jail, for their medical as well as nutrition are clearly neglected. And, that’s okay, because those in custody are nothing but criminals any ways. Right? Wrong. They are human beings. Something needs to be done before some one else dies in the hands of law enforcement. Maybe hold them accountable? Not just a slap on the hand, and told to go home for a few days until they come up with a good story to get them off while still getting paid. Cops are responsible for so many deaths its unbelievable. Everyone else is held accountable for their actions, so why aren’t law enforcement officers!?! Just saying
Wow, somebody who thinks like me I’m tired of this bullshit. A friend of mine is dead because of the cops at the jail and it really makes me sad and you’re right. They get a slap on the wrist. They say it’s not too excessive force my ass it always is they don’t give a shit about anybody. They are tase Happy too. they just keep taseing them if they don’t mind them. What a bunch of crap when is it gonna come to an end somebody needs to step in this whole fucking Mendocino county is so corrupt. I’m so over the shit that goes on here and they get away with it every time sad I’m sad that this happens way too often. Have you ever watched the video of that Stephen guy that they killed in Jail he was from Willits look it up and tell me what you think because it is messed up.
Because they’re not actually “Law Enforcement.” They’re feelings enforcement, policy enforcement, code enforcement & at the beck & call of the rich and/or powerful..
If anyone thinks I’m wrong next time u encounter a cop & he asks for ur name/ID & hasn’t stated what he’s engaged u for (there’s got to be a crime they suspect u of), then he’s already violated ur Rights & isn’t adhering to the Law & Constitution he swore to uphold.
Another is simply ask them what any of the Amendments are besides the 2nd & 5th.
They’re revenue generator’s, that’s all.
Quietly, there’s a tremendous statement in this article. He was showing a positive response to the Narcan..until they took him to Adventist Hospital.. I’ve only been in the area a year & I know that place will kill u.
No accident. You do drugs, it is what happens many times!
Amen! We have dopers wandering all over the streets insane screaming at trash cans and road signs. When they overdose you all blame the same cops that get called to get them off the streets?
Take some meds or give out your address we can form a citizen group who gives these folks a ride to the house of anyone who blames the cops. You can handle these folks.
I’m a business owner and see why these people aren’t dealt with it’s simple people like you all and lawyers who blame everyone except the drug addicts.
“Noticed after handcuffing him that he was experiencing a medical emergency” is such hogwash. Narcan is used for opioid overdoses. Opioid overdose has specific effects on people which does not involve running fast into a cold creek and yelling. He was probably hypothermic in February. He was probably soaking wet after the deputies caught him. He was high and running on fumes. Did they have him face down with his hands behind his back and his legs up? I keep hearing that’s dangerous and also a favorite of the deputies for restraining people. How many more county residents will die under the care of our sheriff before he decides he’s had enough and retires for the good of us all?
That’s exactly what I thought, trying to blame our law enforcement of being to cruel. Pfff. There lucky I hurt my back before I could join. I’d show those junkies real use of force
And I suppose you have decided to endure the pain rather than be a undercover mid class junkie with a script??? Or do u innevidebly pop pain pills? Probably so you are really a Wana be pig with a pill habit and a script… God bless you!
This is the silliest comment I have ever read. Lucky?! HA!