An inmate was found dead inside his jail cell Thursday at the San Diego Central Jail, leading to a one-hour lockdown at the facility, a sheriff’s department official confirmed.
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Melissa Aquino told NBC 7 the inmate was found dead around 1:30 p.m. at the downtown jail. The facility went on lockdown until about 2:30 p.m. while officials investigated. The jail then resumed normal operations, she said.
Aquino said Sheriff’s Homicide Detail was called to the jail to investigate the in-custody death, which is protocol for this time of case.
The San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the inmate’s cause of death. Aquino could not comment on the condition in which the inmate was found including whether or not he sustained any injuries.
The inmate’s name was not released.
