SANTA MONICA : Inquiry Sought in Hanging of Inmate in Cell
Police have called for an investigation into the death of a jail inmate who allegedly hanged himself in the cell he shared with another prisoner.
The inmate, identified as Christin Alamira, 26, appeared to have used his T-shirt to suspend himself Sunday from the upper bunk in the two-man cell he shared with an unidentified prisoner in Santa Monica Municipal Jail, police said.
Alamira, described by police as a transient from Mexico who was also known as Alberto Funis and Alfredo Medell, had been arrested Friday night and was awaiting arraignment on charges of selling rock cocaine to an undercover police officer, Santa Monica Police Sgt. Gary Gallinot said.
Although police said they believe Alamira’s death was a suicide, they have asked the district attorney’s office to investigate because it is unusual for prisoners to commit suicide in the presence of a cellmate, Gallinot said. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office will conduct an autopsy, he added.
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