Tragedy struck at the San Diego Central Jail on Wednesday when a 42-year-old man in custody died following what appeared to be a medical emergency. Despite efforts to save him, the man was pronounced dead around 6:30 p.m., according to a press release by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The man's identity remains undisclosed as authorities are trying to locate and notify his kin.
Inmates alerted deputies at approximately 5:54 p.m. that the man was down inside a housing module. Responding deputies found him unresponsive on the shower floor and quickly assessed the situation, suspecting that he was indeed having a medical crisis. Jail medical staff intervened before paramedics took over, but the man ultimately succumbed and was declared dead.
The deceased was taken into custody the previous day on a misdemeanor arrest warrant, which included charges such as intent to defraud, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia. At the time of the arrest, he was believed to be experiencing homelessness.
Following the protocol for in-custody deaths, the Sheriff's Homicide Unit will investigate to understand further the circumstances leading to the man's death. The Citizen's Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) has also been notified, and the Medical Examiner's Office will ultimately determine the cause and manner of the man's death. "The Sheriff's Homicide Unit responded and will conduct a thorough investigation", stated Michael Krugh, a lieutenant at the Homicide Unit, emphasizing the department's commitment to rigorously investigate the incident, as cited by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
