Authorities Say Prisoner Killed Himself

A 37-year-old Ventura man in jail for violating probation committed suicide in his cell, authorities said Saturday.

Russell Troy Gehman was pronounced dead at Ventura County Medical Center at 8:45 p.m. Friday. The cause of death was asphyxiation, the coroner said.

Gehman was arrested Dec. 1 for violating the terms of his probation, which stemmed from his conviction for assault with a deadly weapon, authorities said. His next court date had been set for Wednesday.

Authorities said staff members at the main jail had fed Gehman, who was housed in his own cell, about 5 p.m. Two hours later, deputies discovered something was amiss when a nurse entered the cell block to distribute pills to prisoners on medication.

“We ask prisoners to close the door,” Lt. Dennis Carpenter said. “He didn’t close his door.”

A sheriff’s deputy then found Gehman on the floor of his cell with a sheet wrapped around his neck, authorities said.

Sheriff’s deputies and medical personnel performed CPR until medics arrived and rushed the man to the medical center’s emergency room, where he was pronounced dead.

Gehman’s suicide comes three months after a 57-year-old Palm Springs man died when his cellmate allegedly attacked him because he flushed the toilet too much.

Thomas Pollizzi died Sept. 1 from a blood clot stemming from blunt injuries to the head. Authorities have charged Alan J. Schaffer, 27, of Sacramento with murder.