Inmate Dies After Altercation With Deputies at Twin Towers Jail

Homicide detectives Friday were investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a County Jail inmate who was involved in a “physical altercation” with Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies at the Twin Towers jail north of downtown.

Lt. Ray Peavy of the sheriff’s homicide bureau said it was initially unclear what caused the man’s death. Detectives--conducting a routine investigation--were awaiting the results of an autopsy on the inmate, identified as Mark Philyaw, 33, of Los Angeles.

The altercation between Philyaw and the deputies occurred Wednesday night. Philyaw, who was being held on charges of assaulting a peace officer, had returned from court with a large number of other inmates. While in the Inmate Reception Center at Twin Towers, he was asked to submit to a strip search.

“They ordered him to lean forward so they could search him,” Peavy said. “The inmate refused to do so and became involved in some kind of physical altercation with the deputies who were trying to do the search.

“As result of the altercation, the inmate went to the floor,” he said. “Deputies restrained him. Then he lost consciousness.”

Given the man’s large size--taller than 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 250 pounds--and the fact that he was subdued by “at least several deputies,” he could have died of any of several causes, Peavy said.

“Until we get the autopsy results, there is no clear indication as to what caused him to die,” the lieutenant said. “It could be anything.”

He said that seven deputies were in the area when the incident occurred and that at least three tried to subdue the man. Peavy said he was unsure if any of the deputies had been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the investigation by homicide detectives. Pepper spray may have been used to try to subdue Philyaw, he said.

After the incident, the inmate was first treated at the jail infirmary. “It was determined by the jail nurse that he should be moved right away to where he could receive extensive care,” Peavy said. Philyaw was taken to County-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead about 8 p.m. Wednesday.

He had been arrested Nov. 20 by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Southwest Division and charged with assault on a peace officer.