Third Sonoma Inmate Found Dead In As Many Weeks

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) — The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office says an inmate with a history of drug abuse has been found dead in his jail cell, the third inmate death at a Sonoma County detention facility in three weeks.

Sgt. Cecile Focha said the inmate had received medical screening when he was arrested on Friday night for drug possession and violating parole. Focha says he was placed in a special unit for inmates going through drug withdrawal and checked on twice an hour.

On Saturday night, he was found without a pulse or any signs of injury.

The San Francisco Chronicle says a 37-year-old homicide suspect was found dead in his cell on Sept. 28. Officials reported that he had hung himself.

The newspaper says a 31-year-old man serving a drunken driving sentence was found dead in his bunk on Oct. 8.