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THREAD: A patient at Napa State Hospital was having trouble with his medication in March 2017 and had an angry outburst in the courtyard.
Hospital Police Officer Michael Hauscarriague, the police chief’s son, “tackled” the patient into a concrete wall, breaking his eye socket and several teeth. The officer also banged his head, likely had a concussion. 
Three other officers lied in reports and failed to interview many of the witnesses to the incident, a state investigation kept secret by police privacy laws later found.
The patient’s doctor and a hospital police detective say higher ups pressured them to arrest the patient, who was transferred to jail and charged by the Napa County DA with felony battery on a peace officer and resisting arrest.
State investigators’ independent probe found Officer Hauscarriague used excessive force and three others tried to cover it up by exaggerating the threat of patient.
When it looked like internal investigation would come out in court, Napa County DA dropped the charges against the patient, keeping it secret. He stayed in jail for about 7 months, then was transferred back to the state hospital.
Two officers, including Hauscarriague, were referred to Napa County DA for possible criminal charges. DA declined to charge.
Officers were originally recommended to be fired, but discipline was watered down significantly after they appealed.
Officers kept their jobs, patient now has a violent incident on his record, and findings of a cover-up were kept secret. Then #SB1421 passed, and we got the records.
Read the full story by @SukeyLewis @SFNewsReporter #CaliforniaReportingProject
kqed.org/news/11755384/…
kqed.org/news/11755384/…
