35-year-old man dies in San Diego central jail a day after he was arrested

A 35-year-old man died while in custody at the San Diego central jail Saturday, one day after he was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft and possession of stolen property.

Several inmates notified sheriff’s deputies shortly before 3:10 p.m. that the man was in medical distress, according to a news release from sheriff’s homicide Lt. Juan Marquez.

“Deputies discovered the individual unresponsive inside his cell,” Marquez said. “Upon observing the situation, the deputies immediately activated 911, requested additional assistance from the facility’s medical staff, and began lifesaving measures.”

San Diego Fire-Rescue personnel arrived and assumed lifesaving efforts. They then took the man to a hospital, but he could not be revived.  The man’s name was withheld pending notification of family members.

The Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) was notified of the incident. As with all in-custody deaths, the sheriff’s homicide unit responded and is investigating. The cause and manner of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

The death is at least the eighth so far this year in San Diego County jails, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The previous death occurred July 28 after the inmate, Karim Talib, was repeatedly ignored by deputies and medical staff for days, according to sworn depositions filed with the federal court in San Diego. Sheriff’s officials have declined to comment on the circumstances.

At least 252 people have died in San Diego County jails since 2006. The rate reached a high of 19 deaths in 2022. Nine were recorded last year and 13 in 2023.

Advocates and relatives of people who died in jails sent a letter to the CLERB in mid-August urging the board to “take action to preserve critical video and audio evidence while investigating allegations of misconduct by Sheriff’s employees and contractors.”

The county faces at least 19 lawsuits claiming that conditions are unsatisfactory and that medical and mental health care are inadequate in the jails.