Man arrested by police in San Ramon dies in custody

A man arrested by San Ramon police last week on suspicion of theft died Monday afternoon at the Contra Costa County Jail in Richmond, authorities said.

The death, which officials say does not appear suspicious, is currently being investigated by the sheriff's and district attorney's offices under the statewide protocol for fatal incidents involving police.

The male inmate, whose name was not released, was originally taken into custody by San Ramon police last Thursday (Aug. 22) on multiple charges of grand larceny and subsequently booked into the Martinez Detention Facility, according to the sheriff's office.

At around 1:56 p.m. on Monday (Aug. 26), officers responded to the unconscious inmate in the housing unit of the West County Detention Facility and called medical personnel to the scene, according to the sheriff's office. It was not immediately clear when the inmate was transferred from Martinez to Richmond.

“Officers, medical personnel and paramedics attempted life-saving measures. The inmate, who was housed alone, was later pronounced dead at the scene,” the sheriff's office said.