Inmate death investigated in 3rd incident at Los Angeles men's jail in 2 days

Homicide detectives were called to the Los Angeles Men's Central Jail Wednesday to investigate the death of an inmate, marking the third major incident at the facility in two days.

Deputies were notified shortly before 7:30 p.m. that an inmate at the jail on 441 Bauchet Street in Chinatown was found unresponsive, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department stated early Thursday morning.

The unidentified inmate was later pronounced dead by personnel with the Los Angeles Fire Department.

No further details regarding the circumstances around the discovery were released.

The cause of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office, the Sherrif's Department stated.

Emergency crews were called to the jail on two other occasions Tuesday regarding exposures to unknown substances at the facility.

Seven inmates were hospitalized, including one in critical condition and six in serious condition, when the Fire Department was called around 7 a.m.

Officials with the Sheriff’s Department later referred to the situation as a “suspected overdose incident.”

A hazmat team searched the facility following the incident but found no additional patients at the time and also determined there was no escalating hazard. 

The Fire Department was back at the jail the same afternoon when seven deputies were rushed to nearby hospitals after exposure to an unknown substance.

The deputies had been searching the inmates' dorms to ensure they were safe to repopulate when they started experiencing symptoms “potentially related to today’s earlier suspected overdose incident,” a news release stated.

All seven deputies were conscious and in stable condition when they were taken to the hospital as a precaution, officials said.