King County has agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the estate of Michael Rowland, the 63 year old man who died in custody at the King County Jail after correctional officers restrained him shortly after his arrest.
The settlement resolves claims stemming from Rowland’s April 2022 death, a case that drew scrutiny over the treatment of people experiencing mental health crises inside the county jail and renewed concerns about in custody deaths at the facility.
Rowland, who was Black, disabled and experiencing homelessness, was arrested by Seattle police while experiencing an apparent mental health crisis at a downtown Seattle hotel…