Authorities investigate inmate’s death after medical emergency

The second inmate death at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in less than a week has authorities investigating, but detectives don’t believe foul play had anything to do with an apparent medical emergency that was suffered by an inmate early Monday morning.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, medical staff was called to the inmate’s cell around 5:35 a.m. The inmate was taken to the hospital but passed away at 9:52 a.m.

Detectives from the Cabazon Station and the Coroner’s Bureau are investigating the death, but so far they don’t suspect foul play, according to the sheriff’s department.

The inmate’s identity will be released pending the coroner’s investigation.

The investigation is ongoing.

An inmate from Thousand Palms was murdered in his jail cell at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on Tuesday, March 17, making this the second inmate death at the jail within one week.