Breaking story: Sheriff puts 9 jailers on administrative leave yesterday

Yesterday, 30 April 2025, the Montgomery County Jail put Sgts Eaton and Solomon and Corrections Officers Drake, Hartman, Wheatley, C. Jones Bittinger, Holley, Marercak and Patel on administrative leave.

This is an advance action as the coroners report on the death of Christian Black on March 26 2025 ^[1].

We’re waiting for the report- and will have more to follow.

UPDATE 15:21 1 May 2025

Officers tased Black while in the restraint chair. Dayton Police, who have been charged with the investigation, are asking for murder charges against the officers.

Mechanical and positional asphyxiation was the cause of death.

You read it on Esrati.com first.

UPDATE 6:31 AM May 2, 2025

Both the Dayton Daily snooze and WHIO TV picked up this story. Neither credited this publication for breaking the story. While neither listed the jailers, both said 10, which was the number I had, but I only had names of 9 (now 10- 2 May 2025 12:34). Reputable news organizations usually credit other publications when a story breaks- not so with DDN or WHIO. Had I not been working all day on the Dayton Debates: NATO event ^[2], I would have had more. yesterday.

I am publishing the Coroners report. To be clear, any claim that he “died 2 days later in the hospital” is categorically false. You’ve been lied to. He was dead in the chair- “revived” and declared brain dead 2 days later- as if Miami Valley Hospital was to blame. While Sheriff Streck can come in and apologize to the family, saying “this never should have happened”- it’s clear that he should be held liable. He’s been exposed over and over for running a dangerous jail – and has failed to do anything to change that. I’ve been working on a story about 6 of his jailers brutally beating an inmate and running up a $180K plus hospital bill for 3 months now. I’m still awaiting PRR responses to show the public what kind of people he allows to continue to work in his house of horror- before releasing it. I try to do real journalism.

Here is a summary of the Coroner’s report- generated by ChatGPT (for efficiency- I don’t get paid to report the news like others- in fact, I get blackballed).:

Decedent: Christian Black, 25-year-old Black male, ~284 lbs, ~72 inches tall.
Date of Autopsy: March 30, 2025, by Dr. Sean A. Swiatkowski, Montgomery County, Ohio.

Cause of Death:

• Mechanical and positional asphyxia (death due to body position or external force preventing breathing).
• Manner of Death: Homicide.

Key Findings:

• Black went unresponsive after being tasered and restrained in custody during a hyperactive, agitated state.
• Brain: Global hypoxic-ischemic injury (lack of oxygen), severe brain swelling, herniations, brain death.
• Heart: Stress-induced (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy, ischemic injury, no major coronary artery blockages.
• Liver: Enlarged, fatty liver with mild inflammation.
• Pancreas: Inflammatory changes, fat necrosis.
• External Injuries: Bruises, abrasions, and hemorrhages on face, scalp, tongue, neck, wrists, torso, and limbs — consistent with restraint and blunt force trauma.
• Toxicology: Positive for marijuana (THC) and naloxone (likely administered medically), no alcohol or novel psychoactive substances.

Context:

• Incident involved law enforcement restraint, tasering, and subsequent cardiac arrest; resuscitated but declared brain dead two days later.

This information, along with reports by the Dayton Police Department who did the investigation will be presented to a Grand Jury to determine if there is going to be a “True Bill” which result in criminal charges. Depending on how County Prosecutor Mat Heck’s people present it, a grand jury may or may not indite. (As was the case against a criminal who stole from this service disabled veteran ^[3]– who was not indicted for stealing over $35K that was well documented- yet- charges were brought and successfully prosecuted in the theft of only $3K for the veteran I took care of.)

Questions about qualified immunity will be undoubtedly part of a defense if any charges are brought to light, unless Mat Heck chooses to bury this in the secret proceedings of the grand jury. The running joke in legal circles is you can indict a ham sandwich if you want, since most grand jury hearings have no defense lawyer or representation present. We also have to take the word of the prosecutor what the grand juries decision was.

Here’s the full coroners report:

I will have more on this case as the day continues, please check back often and share.

And remember, real journalism takes time and effort. If you believe that what I do is a valuable community service, consider a donation ^[4]. Esrati.com will always be free, accessible and open to the public.