A 45-year-old man being held at the San Diego Central Jail died yesterday after fellow inmates saw him faint in a dayroom and called for help, according to sheriff's officials. Paramedics and San Diego Fire Department crews responded and took the man to a nearby hospital. The Sheriff's Office said it is withholding his name until next of kin can be notified.
What officials say
As reported by The San Diego Union‑Tribune, the man, a 45-year-old who had been in custody since April 2024 on charges related to possession of an illegal weapon, was found disoriented and fainting in the jail's dayroom. Paramedics started lifesaving measures on the way to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 5:20 a.m.
Investigation under way
The San Diego County Sheriff's Homicide Unit responded and is investigating the death, and the Citizens' Law Enforcement Review Board has been notified, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office. The agency said the county medical examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death.
Local context
The case lands in a jail system that is already under scrutiny. San Diego County has faced criticism over in-custody deaths in recent years. A 2022 state audit found the county among those with the highest jail death rates in California, according to KPBS. In response, advocates, families and the sheriff's office have pushed for more monitoring and policy changes aimed at reducing preventable deaths.
What’s next
For now, officials are keeping details tight while investigators work the case. The Sheriff's Office has assigned a family liaison to assist relatives, according to The San Diego Union‑Tribune. Anyone with information has been asked to contact the Sheriff's Homicide Unit.
