Oceanside

State officials have launched an investigation of Oceanview Recovery Center after the staff reported that a patient’s suicide was an “unusual occurence.”

The patient, Grant Dean, 61, of Oceanside, was found dead on Aug. 5 by an attendant in the facility’s restroom. He had hung himself from a bathroom mirror using the belt of his bath robe, according to deputy coroner Bob Grubb.

As required by law, the Oceanside facility reported the incident to state officials in a timely fashion, according to Donna Loza, a supervisor for the evaluation division of the state licensing department’s San Diego office.

Loza said the state is required to investigate any incident that shows that the welfare or safety of a patient was threatened. She declined to comment about what the investigation has revealed.

“We’re looking to see if there were any violations of regulations, looking at the patient’s medical records, interviewing the staff,” Loza said.

Grubb, who reportedly had a history of suicide attempts, admitted himself voluntarily to the alcohol treatment center Aug. 4.

Wayne Wilson, a spokesman for Tri-City Medical Center which operates the facility, denied a local newspaper’s report that suggested the center was understaffed and Grubb was not watched properly.

“We have guidelines that state that patients must be monitored by a physician and according to their acuity,” Wilson said. “We have not only met those staffing guidelines but exceeded them every step of the way.”

Grubb’s family could not be reached for comment.