Santa Ana : Auto Theft Suspect, 17, Discovered Dead at Jail
An autopsy was pending Saturday in the death of a 17-year-old auto theft suspect at the county jail.
Sheriff’s Lt. Dick Olson said the youth was found hanging in the shower area of the jail’s juvenile housing section at about 3:12 a.m. Saturday. No other inmates were in the juvenile housing section at the time, Olson said.
The district attorney’s office is investigating the death as required under county policy, Olson said. Authorities withheld the youth’s identity.
According to Olson, the inmate was brought to the jail June 2 after escaping from Juvenile Hall. He was in custody on suspicion of grand theft auto but a new escape charge had been recently added, Olson said.
Olson said he did not know if any jail personnel were monitoring the shower area at the time or if any were assigned to do so.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
