A man died while in the custody of the Orange County Sheriff's Department, officials said Monday. The 34-year-old, whose name has not been released, succumbed to injuries from a car crash following a high-speed chase with Santa Ana Police on Jan. 9.
After stealing a motorcycle, the man was pursued by the police before being apprehended, and taken to a local hospital. During his hospitalization, he underwent a bedside arraignment on Jan. 11, a procedure that placed him in the sheriff's care afterward, according to a statement by the Sheriff’s Department.
The inmate was pronounced dead at the hospital due to the serious injuries obtained from the initial traffic collision, officials said. The details surrounding the pursuit and the subsequent events leading to the man's hospitalization and arrest are still under investigation.
The death review process is underway with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office leading the investigation into the in-custody death, the Sheriff's Department will be conducting its own review. For the moment, no additional information has been released, however, more updates are expected as the case develops.
