Tragedy has struck the Bexar County Jail for the second time within 48 hours as another inmate was pronounced dead early Friday morning, representing the jail's third in-custody death this year; officials reported that 39-year-old Francisco Javier Salinas was found "unresponsive" in his cell just before the morning's first light, prompting immediate medical intervention from a deputy and subsequent emergency personnel, sadly to no avail, according to KSAT.
Salinas, whose underlying chronic health issues purportedly posed a significant challenge, appears to have succumbed to a medical episode that was "compounded by withdrawal symptoms," per a statement by BCSO, although an exact cause of death awaits confirmation by the medical examiner, it's become increasingly clear the detention facility is grappling with a pressing issue as inmates with complex health needs and severe withdrawal symptoms continue to stream in, a reality underscored by Sheriff Javier Salazar's concern regarding the dire need for a more robust healthcare alternative for those detained, KENS 5 reports.
The unfortunate death of Salinas follows that of 40-year-old Duane Ventimiglia, who also experienced a fatal medical episode at the facility on Thursday; BCSO attributes both incidents to the pernicious interplay of existing chronic ailments and the harsh toll of detoxification, highlighting the jail's ill-equipped infrastructure to handle such complex medical scenarios.
In response to these alarming events, Sheriff Salazar emphasized the implementation of "Operation Life Guard," an initiative aimed at bolstering the health and welfare of inmates, yet the effectiveness of such measures remains to be seen as evidenced by these recent fatalities and the growing demand for a transition towards care in medical facilities more adequately prepared for these specialized needs, "since we are seeing more inmates coming in with chronic conditions, we will become more stringent on who we medically accept into our facility," Salazar is quoted as saying, sentiments echoed through BCSO's ongoing discussions with stakeholders to refine protocols for managing inmates amidst detoxification, according to the statement obtained by KENS 5.
