Edson Israel Rosasmedrano, 24, was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead Sunday at the Theo Lacy detention facility in Orange County, days after he was booked into jail. He had been arrested earlier in the week by the Santa Ana Police Department on suspicion of vehicle theft, receiving a stolen vehicle and obstructing or resisting a police officer. Deputies and on-site medical staff tried life-saving measures before Orange County Fire Authority personnel pronounced him dead.
According to a news release from the Orange County Sheriff's Department, Rosasmedrano was housed at the Theo Lacy Facility when he was found unresponsive on Sunday. Deputies and County Medical Services staff responded and attempted to revive him. The release states that preliminary findings revealed no suspicious circumstances and that a final cause of death will be determined after an independent autopsy and toxicology report.
Rosasmedrano was booked on Feb. 19 following his arrest by the Santa Ana Police Department on suspicion of vehicle theft, receiving a stolen vehicle and obstructing or resisting a police officer, as reported by NBC Los Angeles. Detectives said no suspicious circumstances were identified, and the Orange County District Attorney's Office is expected to investigate the in-custody death, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Investigations Under Way
The sheriff's news release states that the department will conduct an in-custody death review while officials await the results of an independent autopsy and toxicology. The release also notes that no additional information will be made public for now as the Orange County District Attorney's Office begins its inquiry.
Custodial Deaths In Context
The death comes amid renewed scrutiny of what happens behind the walls of Orange County jails. A report from the ACLU of Southern California reviewed 119 in-custody death records and found that nearly half occurred within a month of booking. The county's Office of Independent Review also publicly tracks custodial deaths and conducts independent reviews dating back to 2022.
What Happens Next
An autopsy and toxicology report are expected to determine Rosasmedrano's cause of death, and the Orange County District Attorney's Office will review those findings as part of its routine inquiry into in-custody deaths. The sheriff's department has said it will release more information when it becomes available.
