A jury awarded the family of William Enyart $6.5 million from San Bernardino County May 28. The jury found that a sheriff’s deputy was partly responsible for Enyart’s death by alcohol withdrawal in the High Desert Detention Facility on Aug. 1, 2022.
The jury verdict found Bernardino Sheriff’s Deputy Ronald Conley failed to take reasonable action to summon medical care, and was 60% responsible for Enyart’s death. The family argues that Enyart’s drunkenness was not communicated to jail staff by Conley, as is required by county protocols.
The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department had no comment, wrote public information officer Mara Rodriguez. Conley is still employed as a deputy, Rodriguez confirmed.
County counsel argued that Enyart’s family did not communicate his alcohol dependence to Conley and other jail staff.
