For almost eight years, California law enforcement officials kept a death in police custody secret, labeling the case an “accident” and refusing to disclose basic information to journalists and the family of the victim, according to an investigation by Open Vallejo. Darryl Mefferd had seemed disoriented and dehydrated and was making paranoid remarks, so his niece took him to a local hospital, where he was treated with vitamins and a sedative. Doctors wanted him to remain in the hospital, but they did not feel he met the conditions for an involuntary commitment and did not call police. Mefferd …