Sad News this week, and one of the reasons you have not received the weekly email, although it is forthcoming. My brother Tom (the Graphicsdoc, and ATVCENTERMAN) who set up the Oakland high sites, and helped put together all the events like the softball/picnic and potluck, and such, has lost his oldest son, my nephew, Thomas James Burke, or TJ as he was known to all his friends. Per Tom's request, I'm sending this to you all as Tom wanted to share this with all those who know him. If you'd like to contact Tom, his email is graphicsdoc1@aol.com.
TJ's life was suddenly cut short at age 29 on Friday, sometime between 1:30 and 3:30 PM, While awaiting a court trial at the Contra Costa Main Detention facility in Martinez Ca. while being detained on a public drunkenness warrant served on him that morning. Following the obituary is what Tom wrote that he has found out since his death. There will be a coroners inquest, and the family hopes to hire a forensics investigator. The body will not be released until after in inquest, possibly two to six weeks. There is a good chance the Sheriff's may be culpable in TJ's death.
Thomas James Burke
June 13, 1973 - November 17, 2002
Thomas James Burke, aged 29, resident of Concord, Died suddenly last week in Martinez at Merrithew Hospital, under as yet undetermined causes.
Thomas, or TJ as known by his friends, attended schools in Vacaville, Suisun, and Concord where he attended Silverwood elementary and Clayton Valley High.
Thomas enjoyed as a youth drawing "Impossible Mazes", Skating, and Football. He was Quite Active in the Vacaville Unified School district football league. As an adult he enjoyed, and worked at "Mobile DJ " appearances and made many "hip-hop" mixes.
Thomas is survived by his Father, Thomas of Concord, Sister Barbara Anderson and brother-in-law Joel, of San Diego, Brother Jeff, currently Serving in the Marines in Southern California, His Aunt Bonnie Hulse of Barstow, His Uncle Mike and Aunt Terri of Concord, His Uncle Billy of El Centro, Cousins, Nieces and Nephews: Sarina, Jeremy, William, Willy, Barbara, Nancy, Terri, Scott and Danny all of Southern California.
A Service will be announced, Funeral Arrangements have not been set yet pending Coroner's investigation.
Contributions are being accepted by the family to help defray Funeral and Independent Forensic expenses and may be mailed to: Thomas Burke, 5046 Bonwell Drive, Concord California, 94521.
Background on the circumstances. A short paragraph appeared in the Contra Costa Times the day after he passed, but it was totally inaccurate.
TJ suffered from alcoholism resulting in homelessness, during the adult years of his life. He attended several rehab programs, and in fact, was released at 9 am the morning of this incident where he had stayed the prior week, He left the program at 9 am reportedly in good mental health, Physical health and quite sober. He was Arrested by Concord Police sometime between 0950 and 10:20 am on a drunk in public warrant while walking to his hotel room he shared with another.
TJ was alone in a segregation cell awaiting his case to be disposed of, at the Main Sheriff's detention Facility in Martinez, when the Deputy reported that he , (TJ) went from Calm to quite agitated in the Cell. The information has not been forthcoming from the Sheriff at this point, but from independent investigation thus far, it has been determined that the Deputy summoned Jail medical staff, and Mental Health staff to evaluate the situation.
Deputies allege that, During this period TJ's "agitation" Elevated into rage culminating with TJ striking a 2 inch thick, chicken wire encased , 6 inch by 6 inch piece of bulletproof glass and shattering it out with his fist. Deputies then allege that he struck the steel door with a chair (where a Chair came from inside the cell not bolted to the floor is still unclear) in an attempt to break through the door.
It was determined by staff from medical records, the he (TJ) suffered from seizure disease, and was being treated with Dilantan to relieve the seizures. At this point it is assumed that a "Cell Extraction" team was summoned to restrain TJ , and in fact (borne out by medical records, and witness accounts) it took, four deputies, two 10,000 volt tethered teaser shots, and pepper spray to place him in Arm / leg restraint and place a face mask (to prevent exchange of bodily fluids) on him.
At this point, it is assumed that pepper spray caused aspiration into the mask, some of which was lodged in TJ's throat cutting off his airway. Again, it the information is not forthcoming from the Sheriff, but what is known is TJ was left with no heartbeat / lung activity for a total of 23 minutes before arriving at Merrithew hospital downtown Martinez.
When received at Merrithew, his condition was: No heartbeat, No respiratory response, blue in color, pupils fixed and dilated, prelim EEG was no brain activity. Doctors worked about 4 hours in order to stabilize heart/lung activity on life support before family was notified. Neurologists and ER doctors told Tom, That TJ had suffered either an Aneurysm, mass Seizure, or head trauma, but it was unknown at that time, what the exact cause was as yet.
What was known, was a "bleed" was introduced into the Skull cavity, causing uncompressionable pressure pushing the brain rearward and down, into the cervical region cutting of the flow of arterial blood to the organ. Resulting in "Brain Death" and that he was incapable of sustained autonomical response without machine aid (life support) . It was also reported that early Tox screens showed a level of Barbiturate in his blood stream (presumably administered by jail staff during restraint) , which made it hard to stabilize the flow and rate of blood and oxygen to his system.
The Senior District Attorney, and the Senior Sheriff Investigator made a point to meet with Tom at 10:30 that night at his home after Tom left the CCU to "Exchange Information" , Information that both Tom and Mike (my other Brother) were able to obtain from other sources. Tom was told the case was being investigated as a Criminal Case (now a Homicide) and that 15 investigators were being assigned to the case.
Tom, Mike and the rest of the family kept vigilance over TJ , who was in coma, until Sunday night, where despite the best efforts of Doctors and staff, and very hard struggle to hang on to life by TJ , his body began rejecting the drugs keeping him alive, his vitals started dropping, and the 3 day non stop body tremors subsided, until at 03:50 am he stopped responding to life support and was then pronounced deceased at that time.
Tom launched his own preliminary independent investigation during this time and found much in conflict with what he was told by Sheriff investigators, such as, TJ was arrested that day while being drunk, booked on the warrant and released to the program and then walked away, was subsequently re-arrested and brought to court. A narrative with that program administrator during the independent investigation and records, show he was there a week prior and quite well that morning, and sober (9 am) prior to custodial status (9:50 to 10:30) that morning. Medical records are now becoming difficult to aquire, and "answers " to "Questions" are not forthcoming. What started out as a father just wanting to know what happened to his child, now has the appearance of something altogether different than what was first related to Tom.
A memorial service will be held this week for his friends in the form of a celebration of life BBQ, Either at the program house he attended if allowed, or at an place he used to frequent with all his friends. The coroner will not be releasing the remains for another 2-6 weeks pending an inquest.