Former Bakersfield Police detectives Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara are named in a wrongful death lawsuit by the family of a man killed in a police shootout. The suit says Jorge Ramirez died three years ago outside the Sheraton Hotel while working as an informant, a charge BPD denies. Diaz told a federal court last week that he and Mara often used informants “off the books”.

He was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday for bribery, selling drugs and tax evasion. Mara will be sentenced October 17th.

Kelli Forsch and SuzG