A 27-year-old man was found unresponsive inside a holding cell at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland on Wednesday and later pronounced dead at a hospital. Authorities identified him as Enrique Gonsalez-Cruz, and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office says it has opened an investigation into the circumstances of his death.
Found In A Courthouse Holding Cell
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release, reported by KTVU, that Gonsalez-Cruz was discovered in a holding cell with a ligature around his neck. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m. A source told the station he had been alone in the cell before he was found. Officials did not specify what material was used.
Arrest And Custody History
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that California Highway Patrol officers from the Oakland division arrested Gonsalez-Cruz, and that he was booked into Santa Rita Jail on December 12 on suspicion of vehicle theft and possession of a stolen car. The outlet also reported that he had several brief prior incarcerations at Santa Rita and that jail staff notified his family after his death.
Investigation Underway
The sheriff’s office said a forensic pathologist will determine the official cause of death. The incident is the third in-custody death in Alameda County this year, according to KTVU. Kara Janssen, an attorney involved in jail oversight, told reporters she had not independently verified the sheriff’s account that he had been repeatedly categorized as an "AFBH LOC 1" client.
Background And County Scrutiny
Alameda County has faced sustained scrutiny over deaths in custody in recent years. The 2021 death of Mario Gonzalez prompted litigation and renewed public attention on restraint and monitoring practices, as reported by The San Francisco Chronicle. Coverage of parallel probes into care at Santa Rita Jail has continued in recent months, and KQED has detailed related investigations that keep oversight and custody practices under public scrutiny.
In Gonsalez-Cruz’s case, investigators say they will review custody logs, surveillance footage and medical records as part of the probe. The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office may be notified for any independent review, and sheriff’s officials say they will release more information as the investigation moves forward.
