The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office has launched an investigation into a death that occurred at the Martinez Detention Facility (MDF) yesterday afternoon. According to a social media post by the Contra Costa Sheriff's Office, at approximately 5:08 PM, a deputy discovered 62-year-old Victor Jose Faria unresponsive in his cell within the B module of the facility.
After finding Faria, the deputy swiftly called for assistance from Contra Costa Health jail medical staff, and deputies began life-saving measures while the fire department and an ambulance were en route. Having been arrested for trespassing and felony probation violation on January 15th, 2026, Faria, an unhoused individual, was pronounced dead at the scene.
This case has triggered the implementation of the county-wide law-enforcement-involved fatal incident protocol, which dictates that such matters be jointly examined by the Contra Costa Sheriff's Office and the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office. As the agencies conduct their investigation, they are calling on anyone with information related to the incident to come forward. Tips can be shared with the Sheriff's Office Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600, or anonymously by emailing [email protected] or leaving a voice message at (866) 846-3592.
