Lake Elsinore man found hanging in cell

Authorities are investigating the death of a 50-year-old Lake Elsinore man found hanging in his Newport Beach jail cell.

The man has not been publicly identified. Orange County prosecutors are investigating, which is routine, and did not return a call Monday. The Orange County coroner’s office and Newport Beach police referred calls to the prosecutors.

Newport Beach police’s custodial officer found the man in his cell about 2 p.m. Thursday during a routine check and activated the emergency management system, according to police. Newport Beach fire paramedics attempted to resuscitate the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a statement from police.

The department has never had an in-custody death before, police said. There have been attempts at suicide in cells before, but police staff discovered those attempts prior to serious injury, Sgt. Evan Sailor said. State law requires cells to be checked every hour and the department has cameras to monitor cells, but they weren’t able to discover the victim until it was too late, Sailor said. Sailor added the custodial check was done before the mandated hourly check.

The man was arrested Thursday morning by police on a number of criminal warrants, according to police. Newport Beach police referred calls for details on the warrants to Orange County prosecutors.

DANIEL TEDFORD may be reached at (714) 966-4632 or at [email protected].