RACINE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

717 Wisconsin Avenue, Racine, WI 53403-1237

(262) 886-2300 FAX (262) 637-5279
Waterford (262) 534-5166 Burlington (262) 763-9558
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Sheriff Christopher Schmaling Chief Deputy James P. Weidner

******************* MEDIA RELEASE****************

UPDATE

JAIL DEATH RULED ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE

The Sheriff’s Office is announcing the completion of the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office
investigation into the death of Ronquale Ditello-Scott Jr., while an inmate at the Racine
County Jail. Based upon the results, Sheriff Schmaling has ordered a “Len Bias”
investigation into Ditello-Scott’s overdose death.

The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office investigation included:

 Interviews of all relevant witnesses, such as a gas station employee that observed
Ditello-Scott before his arrest, the arresting deputies, jail staff, jail inmates, the
Deputy Chief Medical Examiner of Milwaukee County, and the Racine County
Medical Examiner
 A review of Body Worn Camera video and jail recordings
 A review of written reports and related documents
 A review of medical documentation and a defibrillator report
 A review of the physical evidence
 An additional search of the vehicle Ditello-Scott was driving which resulted in the
location of a small amount of marijuana and a pill that tested positive for fentanyl
 A forensic review of Ditello-Scott’s cellular phone
 An autopsy at the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office
The conclusion of the autopsy was that Ditello-Scott’s cause of death was “Acute
Fentanyl Toxicity”. The Racine County Medical Examiner determined that the manner of
death to be “Accidental”.

A review of the Body Worn Camera recordings showed while Ditello-Scott was in
custody, deputies and correctional officers repeatedly asked Ditello-Scott if he was on any
substance(s) other than marijuana. Ditello-Scott consistently stated he was not on any
other substance. Ditello-Scott stated on several occasions that he was just very tired
because he had not slept in the past few days.

Furthermore, the lead Kenosha investigator reported, “Ditello Scott was arrested by
Racine County Sheriff’s Deputies and arrived to the Racine Jail at 0410 Hrs. Deputies did
not use force at any point during that contact. Ditello Scott was booked into the Jail and
placed in Male Holding #1 at 0510 Hrs. Jail staff did not use force at any point during
that contact. Ditello Scott remained in Male Holding #1. At no point did Ditello Scott
request medical assistance for himself. At no point did any inmate request medical
assistance for Ditello Scott.

The lead Kenosha investigator also reported, “I watched the facility footage of Ditello
Scott from the time he laid down in Male Holding #1 to the time he was found not
breathing by Correctional Officer S[.] and Nurse R[.] from 0510 Hrs to 0809 Hrs the
uninterrupted video showed that Ditello Scott didn’t move from his bed and no one,
including inmates, ever touched Ditello Scott while he was in Male Holding #1[.]”

The Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere condolences to the friends and loved ones of
Ditello-Scott. Sheriff Schmaling stated, “Every overdose death is a tragedy, and I am very
concerned that there has been a 30% increase of overdose deaths, in a one-year-period, in
the United States. The reports are, during this same time period, over 100,000 people
nationally have died from overdoses. Therefore, I am calling on the Racine County Metro
Drug Task Force to continue its ‘Len Bias’ investigation into Ronquale’s death so that all
of the individuals who are responsible for illegally peddling this poison can be held
accountable in a court of law.”

A “Len Bias” investigation/prosecution is named after the tragic overdose death of

basketball star Len Bias in 1986. Following Bias’ death, laws were passed that allowed
for criminal prosecutions against all individuals involved in the supply chain that led to
the victim possessing the controlled substance that caused their death. In Wisconsin, this
law is Wis. Stat. § 940.02(2)(a)3, First Degree Reckless Homicide. The maximum
penalty for this type of homicide is a fine not to exceed $100,000, imprisonment not to
exceed 40 years, or both. Therefore, the investigation into the homicide of Ditello-Scott is
active and ongoing.

***************************************************************

On May 29, 2021, at approximately 2:30 a.m., the Racine County Communications Center
received a complaint of a reckless driver southbound on STH 164 approaching STH 36. The
complainant stated the vehicle was swerving in-and-out of its lane of travel and unable to
maintain a consistent speed.

Deputies located the suspect vehicle and followed it to determine whether the operator
was impaired. Deputies observed the vehicle cross over the center line on multiple
occasions and conducted a traffic stop. The operator did not immediately yield to the
emergency lights of the fully marked squad car and continued to roll forward at a slow rate
of speed for approximately two-tenths of a mile prior to coming to a complete stop.

The suspect identified himself as Ronquale Ditello-Scott Jr. and stated the reason for the
lane deviations was a mechanical problem with his vehicle. While being interviewed,
Ditello-Scott admitted to smoking marijuana two hours prior to the stop. During their
investigation, the deputies searched Ditello-Scott’s vehicle and located multiple forms of
marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and open intoxicants. The deputies had Ditello-Scott
perform the Standardized Field Sobriety Test, and he did not successfully complete the
tests. At approximately 3:00 a.m., the deputies took Ditello-Scott into custody for a variety
of charges, including Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated 2nd.

The deputies transported Ditello-Scott to a hospital where he consented to a legal blood

draw. The deputies completed their investigation and transferred custody of Ditello-Scott
over to the staff at the Racine County Jail at approximately 4:10 a.m.
Once in custody of the jail, Ditello-Scott was provided with basic necessities, and he was
allowed to go to sleep in a holding cell at approximately 5:10 a.m. At approximately 7:00
a.m., a correctional officer removed another inmate from the holding cell and Ditello-Scott
was seen breathing while sleeping.

At approximately 8:09 a.m., jail staff conducted another check on Ditello-Scott, who was
“yellow in color and not breathing.” Medical professionals and rescue personnel from the
City of Racine Fire Department provided emergency care to Ditello-Scott, but he could not
be revived. Ditello-Scott was pronounced dead at the jail, and the Kenosha County Sheriff’s
Office was contacted to perform an independent review of his death, which will include an
autopsy.

The family of Ditello-Scott shared with the Sheriff’s Office that he was a devoted father, and
he was expecting the birth of his son in September of 2021. 
The Racine County Sheriff’s Office will provide more details on this investigation as is
appropriate.

Christopher Schmaling
Sheriff, Racine County

By Lt. Michael J. Luell #10511

Public Information Officer