Family says man died after being injured then neglected for a week by rural Colorado jailers

DENVER (AP) -- A lawsuit filed by the family of Michael Burch, a 69-year-old man who died in a rural Colorado jail, alleges that he slowly suffocated after suffering broken ribs during an altercation with a deputy. Burch's death, ruled a homicide by the coroner, occurred in 2023 after he spent a week without medical care following the incident. Following a state investigation, prosecutors decided not to charge the deputy involved, citing self-defense as a possible justification for the deputy's actions.

The altercation began when Burch, who had been exhibiting erratic behavior attributed to deteriorating mental health, was tackled by a deputy after refusing to drop a pencil given to him for note-taking. Body camera footage shows that the deputy warned Burch to "Drop it or we'll drop you" before using a Taser. The subsequent struggle resulted in six broken ribs and a collapsed lung, yet Burch was not taken to the hospital and was instead moved to another cell, where he was found dead a week later.

Attorneys for Burch's estate claim that the pain from his shattered ribs caused his right lung to shrink significantly, ultimately leading to his death. The lawsuit targets Huerfano County officials, including the sheriff's office, paramedics, and healthcare providers, accusing them of failing to address Burch's serious injuries and violating his constitutional rights.

Despite claims of Burch's severe physical condition, including his own assertions that his ribs were crushed, medical staff reportedly did not conduct a thorough evaluation. Instead, Burch was assessed primarily for his mental health, and crucial physical symptoms were overlooked. He expressed concern about his condition to a sheriff's captain before being seen by a nurse who failed to check his chest.

Burch had been arrested on March 25, 2023, after a series of concerning behaviors. His family’s lawsuit highlights the lack of appropriate medical intervention after his altercation with law enforcement and sheds light on systemic failures within the jail’s healthcare protocols, leaving them unaware of any disciplinary actions related to his death.