Sheriff’s Deputy Being Investigated : Burglary and ‘Association’ With Prisoner Lead to Inquiry

A San Diego County Sheriff’s Department spokesman confirmed Wednesday that a woman jail inmate who committed suicide Friday had been “associated” with a deputy, and internal affairs investigators are determining whether the deputy should face disciplinary action.

Reading from a prepared statement, Sgt. Rich Hendrickson said the female deputy, whom he did not identify, has been placed on administrative leave pending a full investigation. He added that the deputy was not placed on leave as a result of the suicide, pointing out that she had been placed off duty two days before the inmate’s death.

“Sheriff’s internal affairs division initiated an investigation into allegations that a deputy sheriff assigned to Las Colinas had become associated on a personal basis with Laura Beth Maki,” Hendrickson said. “Pending a completion of the internal investigation, such an association may constitute a violation of department policy, which prohibits avoidable associations with persons who have engaged in criminal behavior.”

Hendrickson declined to say what punishment the deputy might face if she were found to have violated department policy.

Hendrickson said that sheriff’s homicide detectives are investigating the jail cell hanging death of Maki, 24, of El Cajon. A preliminary study revealed that Maki died of asphyxiation after she apparently hanged herself using strips of bed linen, Deputy Coroner George Dickason said.

Sheriff’s detectives are also investigating an Oct. 30 burglary at a Spring Valley home owned by the deputy who is on administrative leave.

Sheriff’s spokesman Dave Stafford said that a Spring Valley woman identified as Sheryl Baker was arrested Nov. 19 on suspicion of possessing stolen property, which included law enforcement 572678514belonged to the deputy in question.

The investigation of the deputy began the day Baker was arrested.

Maki was arrested early Friday by San Diego police and booked into the Las Colinas County Jail for women on charges of probation violation, providing false information to a police officer and auto theft, Hendrickson said. It was not determined when the deputy allegedly came to know the victim, but deputies indicated that Maki had been arrested in the past and had been placed at the women’s jail.