Sheriff's Department Investigating Inmate Death

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SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A man being held in the George Bailey Detention Facility died after being found unresponsive during a security check, a county Sheriff's Department official said today.  

Just before 8 a.m. on April 27, 25-year-old Omar Ornelas and a second unidentified inmate were found in their jail cell, according to sheriff's Lt. Chris Steffen.  

The unidentified inmate was revived with the use of Naloxone and transported to a hospital, Steffen said in a news release.  

Deputies, medical staff and paramedics performed life-saving measures on Ornelas, but he did not survive, Steffen said.  

In November 2018, Ornelas, a San Marcos resident, was arrested and booked into the Vista facility on a probation violation for vandalism and committing a crime for the benefit of a gang, the Sheriff's Department said.  

On December 28, 2018, Oceanside police filed a murder charge against Ornelas, who was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and committing a crime for the benefit of a gang. Ornelas was transferred to the Bailey facility on Dec. 27.  

The cause of Ornelas' death is under investigation, with an autopsy scheduled for today, Steffen said.


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