Five Virginia deputies have been fired after the death of an inmate while confined was judged a homicide.
Authorities claim 34-year-old Rolin Hill died in June while being booked into Virginia Beach Correctional Center by numerous deputies, only days after being detained on counts of trespassing, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.
According to the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office, Hill became “uncooperative and combative” throughout the booking procedure and had to be restrained. According to the Virginian-Pilot, he had a medical problem less than 30 minutes after arriving at the jail and had to be transported to a nearby hospital. He died six days later.
According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Hill died of “positional and mechanical asphyxia due to restraint with neck and torso compression.”.
The sheriff’s office issued a statement announcing that the deputies involved in Hill’s booking had been fired.
“Based on updates from the Virginia State Police in the Rolin Hill case, deputies of the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office involved in this incident are no longer employees of the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office,” Rocky Holcomb, the sheriff, wrote.
Right after Hill died, two of his friends spoke out against the first information revealed by authorities about the 34-year-old’s death in June.
“What the family thinks … there was more than four deputies that were fighting with him, and they said he was being combative, and I believe that they beat him until he had a medical emergency, and then they felt they had to deal with it as they saw fit afterwards, which was not the correct way,” a witness who knew Hill told WAVY.
Hill was little in stature, according to many who knew him, and he struggled with mental health.
“They claimed he was combative.” So, if he was considered combative due to his size, it shouldn’t need five officers to keep him down,” Hill’s companion stated. “He did not have anything other than his every once in a while … mental issues, and that was checked into.”
The Virginia State Police and the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office continue to investigate the matter. There have been no arrests in connection with Hill’s murder, and no charges have been filed as of yet.
“We are aware of the cause of death and the fact that those five deputies are no longer employed by the Sheriff’s Office,” the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office informed WAVY. The findings of the Sheriff’s internal investigation have no bearing on the independent criminal investigation being conducted by the Virginia State Police and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
This office has been in contact with the Virginia State Police from the beginning of the inquiry. When the VSP submits their report, we will thoroughly review it. We appeal for the public’s patience while we continue our inquiry and will provide an update once our study is complete.”
The Virginia Beach NAACP also issued a statement, saying that they “continue to stand with the family of Rolin Hill and call for justice and transparency.”
“Although the medical examiner has confirmed that the death of Hill was a homicide, the Virginia State police continues to investigate this incident and no charges have been issued,” a press release stated. We await the report’s final findings and hope that those who committed this atrocity are held accountable to the greatest extent of the law.”
According to The Pilot’s obituary, Hill was a sports aficionado who favored the Atlanta Braves, Dallas Cowboys, and Phoenix Suns. He achieved the Eagle Scout badge in his youth and enjoyed surfing, going to the beach, and spending time with his family.
“Rolin went on to do one more amazing final act; he donated his heart, his liver and kidneys that saved four other people’s lives,” according to the funeral director. “Mental health in America remains a big issue. In memory of Rolin, his family requests that you donate to any mental health foundation.