Santa Rita Inmate On Life Support After Suicide Attempt

DUBLIN, CA — An inmate at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin who was recently arrested on suspicion of child molestation and is on life support after he attempted suicide inside his cell on Monday night, Alameda County sheriff's officials said today. Deputies assigned to Santa Rita responded to Housing Unit 23 at about 8:50 p.m. Monday on a report of an inmate attempting suicide inside his cell, Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly said.

The deputies found the 47-year-old man suspended from a cell bunk bed with a bed sheet wrapped around his neck, Kelly said. He said the inmate was not responsive and deputies quickly removed the sheet and began life-saving measures with the assistance of jail medical staff.

The inmate was immediately transported to a hospital, where he remains on life support, according to Kelly.
He said it's likely that the inmate won't survive since he's already had one brain death reading. The man's family is making arrangements and the sheriff's office is assisting them with that process, Kelly said.

Authorities aren't yet releasing the inmate's name. Kelly said sheriff's officials are investigating the incident.
He said deputies at Santa Rita check on inmates at least once an hour and check every 15 minutes on inmates who are considered to be at risk of attempting suicide because they are depressed or have mental health
issues.

Kelly said he doesn't believe the inmate who tried to kill himself on Monday was considered to be at risk. Deputies responded to the inmate's cell very quickly on Monday night but he had already done a lot of damage to himself, Kelly said. He said inmate suicides at Santa Rita "are very rare" but do happen periodically.

By Bay City News

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