VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Two close friends of Rolin Hill and his family spoke exclusively to 10 On Your Side’s Andy Fox on Tuesday.
They shed light on the man who died Monday after being in custody at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center.
10 On Your Side first reported Monday that Hill died at the hospital after the sheriff said he had a medical condition.
Some of Hill’s friends do not buy that. Two of Hill’s friends are close to the family and believe the medical emergency was caused by the treatment Hill received inside the jail.
“Rolin grew up in the neighborhood, he was friends with everybody,” one friend said. “We hung around. He never had any problems. You know, he had his little things going on, but other than that man, he was a straight, good hearted, honest guy.”
“What do we know about what happened to Rolin?” a second friend asked. What do we believe happened to him? What the family thinks … there was more than four deputies that were fighting with him, and they said he was being combative, and I believe that they beat him until he had a medical emergency, and then they felt they had to deal with it as they saw fit afterwards, which was not the correct way.”
According to Virginia Beach Sheriff Rocky Holcomb, Hill was booked in the Virginia Beach Correctional Center at 8:20 p.m., and at 8:45 p.m., Hill experienced a medical emergency.
Hill was slight in physical stature, according to one of his friends.
“They said he was combative. So, if he was considered combative as far as his stature, it shouldn’t take five deputies to hold this man down,” Hill’s friend said. “The family and close friends think Hill was beaten into the medical emergency room requiring Hill to go to the hospital.”
HIs friend told 10 On Your Side that Hill did have mental challenges, but nothing that would cause a medical emergency.
“He did not have anything other than his every once in a while … mental issues, and that was checked into. We talked recently [about it] at Harris Teeter, where Hill worked, when I was checking out and this was about three months ago. And other than that, he didn’t have any issues.”
10 On Your Side’s Andy Fox learned that Hill’s mother, Gail, once worked for the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office confirmed Gail Hill was indeed a deputy sheriff from May 1, 1998, to Nov. 30, 2005.
“We grew up knowing Rolin’s mother was a sheriff’s deputy with the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office, and everyone knew that,” one of Hill’s friends said.
WAVY attempted to reach out to Gail Hill, but so far there has been no response.
Another one of Hill’s friends said he was unsure if Hill’s parents were able to see him before he died.
“I’m not positive. I know that as of Sunday night, they were calling in, he was an organ donor, so they called in for him to have his organs harvested,” the friend said. And that’s when he passed away Monday morning, and then his body was given to the medical examiner.”
The Virginia Beach NAACP released this statement:
Virginia Beach NAACP is concerned about the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Rolin Hill. Virginia Beach, VA-The Virginia Beach Branch of the NAACP (VBNAACP) was recently informed of the death of Mr. Rolin Hill while in the custody of law enforcement. VBNAACP President Dr. Eric Majette issued the following statement: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the untimely death of Mr. Rolin Hill. We are further concerned about with the circumstances surrounding his death. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Hill family during the loss of their son and brother. We understand that the Virginia State Police is currently conducting an investigating into the death of Mr. Hill. While this investigation continues, we will wait to make further statements until the facts and fact finding concludes.”
Virginia Beach NAACP
The Medical Examiner said Tuesday the cause and manner of death remain pending.