Police Defend Treatment of Man Who Died in Jail

Santa Paula police on Wednesday defended their treatment of a 23-year-old man who died in their jail of a suspected drug overdose and said they could not rule out the possibility that the man smuggled cocaine in with him.

Police Chief Walter H. Adair said Daniel Guajardo, who was found dead about 10 hours after he was arrested, may have entered the jail cell with drugs.

He said he did not know if officers had done a body cavity search.

However, Adair said it was his opinion that the man had simply had a delayed reaction to the cocaine.

Toxicology reports that may explain whether Guajardo died of a cocaine overdose might not be finished for eight to 12 weeks, coroner’s investigator Mitchael Breese said. An autopsy on Guajardo revealed no apparent cause of death such as disease or injury, he said. The body did have “marks from a fight he had with his wife,” Breese said.

Santa Paula police said there were no indications when Guajardo was booked that he was at risk of suffering an overdose.

“There was no indication of a medical emergency, so there was no need to take him to the hospital,” Adair said. “We arrest hundreds of people every year who are under the influence who don’t need to be taken to the hospital.”

Guajardo was arrested about 5 p.m. Monday at an apartment complex in downtown Santa Paula after a heated argument with his wife, his relatives said.

Guajardo was highly emotional and agitated when officers arrived, Adair said. Guajardo was exhibiting symptoms that signal someone is on cocaine, such as dilated pupils and a high pulse rate, said Commander Bob Gonzales of the Santa Paula Police Department.

One officer used a restraint hold to put handcuffs on Guajardo but did not cause any injuries, Adair said.

Guajardo was arrested on suspicion of cocaine possession, being under the influence of cocaine and interfering with a peace officer.

Three folded paper containers holding cocaine were discovered in the police car that was used to take Guajardo to the station, Gonzales said.

Guajardo admitted that the drugs belonged to him, Gonzales said. The officer said squad cars are routinely checked when officers change shifts in case a suspect has stashed drugs under the seats.

Two hours after Guajardo was arrested, he was able to remember phone numbers, Adair said. He called his family and complained of chest and leg pains, his estranged wife said.

A sergeant who has worked as a narcotics officer checked on Guajardo, Adair said.

Guajardo, who was last seen alive at 1:30 a.m., was pronounced dead when he was found between 3 and 3:15 a.m., Breese said.

Gonzales said Sgt. Wes Easley found Guajardo’s body.

“It’s very stressful for everyone concerned, the department and the family,” Adair said. “It’s very disconcerting to have something like this happen.”

The family said Guajardo, who is survived by his wife and four children, was not a violent man.

He had been arrested in the past 10 years by the Santa Paula Police Department on suspicion of possessing switchblades, on suspicion of grand theft and twice on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Adair said. He said he had no further information on the arrests.

Adair said the department would have more comments about the case when the toxicology report is completed.

He said it was possible to develop an arrhythmia, or abnormal heartbeat, after taking cocaine.

“Maybe his heart did fine until afterward when he was coming down off of it and developed an arrhythmia,” Breese said.