Three Former Virginia Jailers Charged After Detainee Dies in “WRAP” Restraint
Three former Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Department (VBSD) deputies were indicted on January 3, 2025, in the death of Rolin Hill, who suffocated in a “WRAP” restraint device at the city jail in June 2024. Charged with second-degree murder were Eric G. Baptiste, 39; Michael C. Kidd, 39; and Kevin B. Wilson, 34. Baptiste and Kidd were also charged with assault and battery.
Hill, 34, was arrested on June 4, 2024, by city police—not Sheriff’s deputies—and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and trespassing at a local 7-Eleven convenience store. At his preliminary arraignment, the former Eagle Scout was denied bond and booked into the Virginia Beach Correctional Center. During the intake process he became “uncooperative and combative,” VBSD later stated; the city cops who arrested him then put him in the “WRAP” restraint. Less than 30 minutes later, Hill had a “medical emergency” and was transported to a hospital, where he died six days later.
Developed by Diablo, California-based Safe Restraints, Inc., the WRAP consists of a strap that binds the legs at the ankles along with a larger Velcro blanket that binds the legs tightly together. A harness put over the head of the detainee, who is also handcuffed, is then tethered from a hook near his chest to another near his toes. It looks like a variation of the deadly technique called hog-tying—only with fancier equipment.
In video of the incident, which was released at the time that charges were announced, one guard can be seen punching Hill in the head while he was still secured in the WRAP device. Another guard put a knee on the detainee’s head as the device was removed. The city police department owns the device, and its officers are trained in its use, according to defensive tactics coordinator John Scamordella. However, the VBSD deputies were reportedly untrained in use of the restraint. Sheriff Rocky Holcomb did not confirm that.
Hill reportedly had mental health issues; in his obituary, his family asked that donations in his memory be made to mental health organizations. No lawsuit has yet been announced. The medical examiner determined that Hill was the victim of homicide, blaming his death on “positional and mechanical asphyxia due to restraint with neck and torso compression.” The Virginia State Police investigated. That led Holcomb to fire the three deputies in October 2024, along with two others who were not named. A special grand jury then convened, leading to charges against the three former guards.
“Law enforcement must be held to the highest standards, particularly when dealing with vulnerable populations such as those facing mental health challenges,” according to the PeaceMaker Sheriff website, which promotes principles of transparency, fairness and justice in sheriff’s offices. “This incident reveals the urgent need for reform in how law enforcement interacts with citizens, especially within the confines of jails and correctional facilities.”
The three former deputies facing charges were freed on $5,000 bond.
Additional source: Norfolk Virginian Pilot
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