Man in Sheriff’s Office custody died of natural causes, autopsy says

A man in the custody of the Sheriff’s Office, who was taken to a hospital in medical distress, died in August of natural causes, according to the autopsy results released Wednesday.

Steven Curren, 35, was detained in the San Diego Central Jail downtown on Aug. 30 when several inmates reported to deputies that he was in medical distress, according to sheriff’s officials. Deputies found him unresponsive in his cell, and he was taken to a hospital, where he died.

The Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the cause of death was due to complications of hypertensive cardiovascular disease in the setting of a hypoplastic right kidney, or a kidney that was not fully developed. Asthma, chronic alcohol use and obesity were cited as significant contributing factors.

Curren had been arrested a day prior and was facing charges of vehicle theft and possession of stolen property.

The sheriff’s homicide unit is investigating the death, as it does all in-custody deaths. The Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board was also notified of the death.