A 23-year-old man died Sunday in the detox unit of a San Mateo County jail, officials said. The unidentified male inmate was at Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City when a nurse, during a routine medical evaluation at 8:45 a.m., noticed he was having trouble breathing despite efforts from jail and medical staff to provide life-saving measures.
Paramedics from a Redwood City Fire Department were called in, but the man unfortunately passed away following what was described as a medical incident. A joint investigation involving the County Coroner's Office, Sheriff’s Investigations Bureau, and the District Attorney’s Office has been launched to determine the cause of the man’s death, as reported by CBS News San Francisco. The name of deceased is being withheld until family is notified.
The detox facility had reportedly upgraded its medical care over the last year in response to a rise in arrests connected to illegal narcotics use. The unit treats inmates who are often suffering from withdrawal from drugs or alcohol, requiring them to be under "constant" observation and receiving medical evaluations every 15 to 30 minutes. This information was provided by a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office and detailed in a release obtained by the Mercury News.
Details surrounding the incident remain scarce as the investigation is ongoing. Official statements by the involved agencies highlight that the inquiry into the man's death follows standard protocols for in-custody fatalities. According to the Sheriff's Office, the enhanced care had been implemented in the Detox Unit to specifically "address the increase in the number of people arrested for a crime while under the influence of illegal narcotics."
