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When the volunteer board that investigates complaints against the San Diego Sheriff’s Department looked into what killed Paul Silva, the panel found that no jail policies were violated and closed the case.
A key piece of evidence in the case was video footage showing a tactical team’s efforts to remove Silva, who suffered from schizophrenia, from a holding cell. During the violent struggle, Silva stopped breathing, resulting in brain damage due to a lack of oxygen. Members of the review board did not watch the video, the board’s former executive officer told The San Diego Union Tribune, and relied on an investigator’s brief summary of the incident.