Almost a year after the death of Richard Johnson, District Attorney Ismael Ozanne is declining to file charges against the Madison police officers who took him into custody a day before he died at a local hospital.
On Dec. 30 last year, Madison officers were dispatched to an east side Best Western following reports that Johnson stole a car at the hotel. After a foot chase, officers tackled Johnson, a short struggle followed and then officers arrested him, according to Ozanne’s statement about his charging decision.
Officers called paramedics to evaluate Johnson after he said he’d ingested cocaine, was short of breath and in pain. Paramedics then cleared Johnson to be transported by officers to the Dane County Jail, but en route, he lost consciousness…