Crime & Safety
Inmate Dies In County Jail Tuesday After Being Tased
58-year-old suspect was tasered and later found dead in his cell. Thanks to photographer Craig Cannon for the picture.
A 58-year-old man, who was tased by Contra Costa Sheriff's deputies Tuesday afternoon for being uncooperative, was later found dead in a holding cell at county jail in Martinez.
According to Sheriff's Department spokesman Jimmy Lee, the inmate was brought to the jail from Pinole Tuesday morning. He was in the intake area of the jail around 12:30 p.m. when he became "physically combative." He was escorted to a holding cell, where he continued to be uncooperative, Lee said. A deputy then used his taser on the inmate, who was moved to a safety cell and checked by medical staff.
When deputies checked on the man around 2:30, Lee said, he was found to be unresponsive. Medical personnel were called in and CPR was applied. He was taken to county hospital in Martinez, where he was pronounced dead.
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Lee said the Sheriff's Department and the District Attorney's office are investigating the incident. The jail was on lockdown all afternoon, but that has since been lifted. The intake area, which was also closed, has been reopened.
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