Family of Alexander Rios Receives $4M Settlement in Wrongful Death Case

Corrections officers subjected Alex to unjust excessive force, resulting in his death

Background

In the early morning of September 19, 2019, Alexander Rios was booked into Richland County Jail. Less than 24 hours later, corrections officers brutally attacked Alex and rendered him unconscious. The entire attack was captured on video. After being transported to OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, Alex fought for his life in the ICU. On September 27, 2019, doctors removed Alex from a ventilator and he died shortly thereafter. He was just 28 years old. 

In February 2021, footage of the incident was publicly released. Sgt. Jamaal O'Dell said he began recording the video on a hand-held camera after he was called to assist officers. The video footage showed that officers pinned Alex to the concrete floor using the full weight of five men to compress and restrain him, then tased him at leave five times. One officer punched Alex in the head several times, and another placed a foot on his back using his full weight, which restricted Alex’s breathing. Two minutes after the attack began, Alex went unconscious but officers only noticed when they began to lift him minutes later and realized he was limp and turning blue. 

Approach & Resolution

FG+G partners Marcus Sidoti and Sarah Gelsomino, together with co-counsel J.C. and Rocky Ratliff of Ratliff Law Office, represented Alex’s family, including his mother, stepfather, and Rios’s three young children. We secured a landmark $4 million settlement pre-litigation, offering a semblance of closure to Alex’s family without the need to go to trial.

The video footage was instrumental to this case, showing shocking and violent use of force against Alex by Richland County Jail correctional officers. 

Alex was part of a loving and connected family. His young children lost a devoted father who was an active part of their daily lives. Our victory on behalf of Alex’s family sends a message that this type of behavior is unacceptable in Ohio jails. We will continue to fight for justice for those who have been abused at the hands of corrections employees. 

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