In a grim turn of events, a death investigation at the San Diego Central Jail has culminated in the arrest of an inmate for the alleged murder of his cellmate. The deceased, identified as 24-year-old Brandon Andrew Yates, passed away under unclear circumstances, sparking an extensive investigation by local authorities.
Yates, who had been arrested on January 15 for burglary, was found unresponsive during a routine safety check by deputies the following day. Jail staff and deputies attempted to revive him with CPR, Naloxone, and an AED, but he was ultimately pronounced deceased, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Despite these efforts, Yates' life could not be salvaged.
Alvin McDonald Ruis, 36, the cellmate of Yates, has been arrested and charged with murder in connection to Yates' death. No stranger to the law, Ruis had been in custody for charges including domestic violence and stalking. Ruis' rap sheet extended even further to include burglary and committing a felony while on bail, as detailed in a news release by the sheriff's department. Notwithstanding his history, the precise motives and actions leading to Yates' untimely demise remain to be fully unraveled by the courts.
The case is now with the District Attorney's Office for criminal proceedings, as the complete narrative of what transpired within those walls sits tightly sealed within the forthcoming medical examiner's report. An officer from the Sheriff's Department will support the Yates family as they grapple with the tragic loss of their loved one. In the shadow of such tragedy, protocol dictates a thorough review led by the Citizen's Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB), which has been duly notified and is actively involved.
