The civil suit over the death of a police informant has been given a boost by the sentencing of former Bakersfield police detective Damacio Diaz.

Attorney Ben Meiselas represents the family of Jorge Ramirez, who died in a police shootout three years ago, and he says Diaz backed up their claims of corruption in the narcotics division. The court has allowed Diaz, his former partner Patrick Mara, and another officer to be added as defendants to the lawsuit and to investigate new evidence.

BPD is not commenting until Mara is sentenced. They have also denied that Ramirez was ever a police informant.

Sean Michael Lisle