>

Paula Nocker

Paula Nocker, 80, Dies in Police Custody

A St. Louis County woman died in police custody on Monday, the St. Louis County Police Department announced.

Paula Nocker was arrested on Aug. 28 for allegedly stealing food from a grocery store.

She was transported by police to the St. Louis County Justice Center, where she was held in a cell with two other inmates for 6 hours.

At one point, according to police, she became “combative.” Officers used pepper spray to restrain her and then placed her in a wrist restraint. After she began acting erratically, a nurse checked Nocker and found “no obvious injuries.”

Nocker was later found unresponsive in her cell by police. Police and paramedics performed CPR, but she was pronounced dead at 5:30 p.m.

The St. Louis County Police Department is investigating the incident.

The St. Louis County Medical Examiner's Office has not yet released the cause of Nocker's death.

Nocker's family has filed a lawsuit against the St. Louis County Police Department, alleging that she died as a result of police brutality.

The lawsuit claims that police used excessive force against Nocker and that she was not given proper medical attention.

The St. Louis County Police Department has denied any wrongdoing.

The department said that Nocker's death was a “tragic accident” and that officers used “reasonable force” to restrain her.

The lawsuit is ongoing.