Family of woman who died in Ohio holding cell files lawsuit

CLEVELAND (AP) — The family of a Cleveland woman who died in a holding cell at a suburban jail last year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, claiming her civil rights were violated.

Cleveland.com reports 37-year-old Ralkina Jones’ family filed the federal lawsuit Wednesday, alleging officers at the Cleveland Heights jail didn’t check in on her hourly and caused her to be improperly medicated.

The family is asking for an unnamed amount in damages and that the city adopt policies to prevent similar deaths.

The Cuyahoga County medical examiner ruled Jones’ June 2015 death was accidental and related to her medical conditions.

The city’s law director says he hadn’t seen the lawsuit and declined to comment.

Police say Jones had been arrested two days earlier after a reported altercation with a former spouse.