One inmate died and six others were taken to hospitals Tuesday from the Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, where paramedics were sent on a report of possible overdoses.
Emergency personnel were sent to the facility in the 400 block of Bauchet Street at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday, according to Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
A man in his 30s died at the scene, and the other patients were taken to hospitals in unknown condition, according to Stewart, who said the investigation involves an “unknown white powder.”
At an afternoon news conference, sheriff’s officials said the inmate who died was a 38-year-old man, and those who were treated ranged in age from 18 to a man his late 60s. All were housed in a cell at the Inmate Reception Center.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Michael Modica, speaking to reporters at an afternoon news conference, said investigators had not yet determined whether drugs were responsible for the death.
“Again we don’t make the determination,” Modica said. “You’re making the assumption narcotics is the cause. That’s the job of the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-coroner to determine. So at this point we’re not saying that’s the cause of the death. … We’re still doing an investigation.”
The name of the man who died was not immediately released.