Prisoner Dies in County Jail While Suffering From Heroin Withdrawal
A 29-year-old inmate suffering from heroin withdrawal died early Monday in the Orange County Jail after complaining he felt ill, officials said.
The prisoner, whose name was being withheld until family members could be notified, told deputies about 5 a.m. that he had vomited and felt sick. On his way to the jail’s medical floor, he slumped over in a wheelchair and became unconscious, Lt. Dan Martini said.
The man was rushed to the medical triage area and treated by medical staffers and paramedics. He was pronounced dead by 6 a.m., Martini said.
An autopsy was scheduled to determine the cause of death and an investigation planned by the Orange County district attorney’s office, which probes all jail deaths.
Martini said the man, who was booked into the jail last Friday on a bench warrant for drug sales, was withdrawing from heroin.
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