Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's Office was appointed as a special prosecutor to investigate the death of Tanisha Anderson, who died while she was in police custody, a release stated Wednesday.
According to the Attorney General's Office, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty said he asked the Attorney General to take over the case after investigators from the Sheriff's Department informed prosecutors on Tuesday of facts that created a conflict of interest for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office.
DeWine agreed to take the case, and a motion for a special prosecutor was filed Tuesday. On Wednesday, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Administrative and Presiding Judge John J. Russo signed an order appointing the Attorney General's Office as special prosecutor.
Anderson, 37, died on Nov. 12, 2014 after struggling with Cleveland police officers who were trying to get her into a squad car so they could take her for a psychiatric evaluation.
