Fifth man dies while in custody at Clark County jail
A 43-year-old man died after having an apparent medical episode Tuesday while being booked into the county jail, Las Vegas police said.
The fatality marks the fifth time a man has died in the custody of law enforcement in Clark County in 10 days. Four of the deaths occurred shortly after the individuals were in custody of Las Vegas police.
The identity of the man who died Tuesday was not released.
Police said Wednesday that just before 7 p.m., the man was taken to the Clark County Detention Center by officers with the Taxi Cab Authority over a fare dispute that occurred near 15th and Fremont streets.
Police said the Taxi Cab Authority officers described the man as combative. While being booked, he began to exhibit signs of a medical episode, police said.
Jail officers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and an ambulance was called. The man was taken to Valley Hospital Medical Center and died at 7:45 p.m.
Detectives with the department’s homicide detail are investigating the man’s whereabouts before his encounter with Taxi Cab Authority officers.
Other in-custody deaths have occurred this month.
On Jan. 14, shortly after midnight, an inmate died at the county detention center. Police said it appeared he died from a medical episode.
On Jan. 17, a 36-year-old Mexican national died after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel in Las Vegas.
Miguel Sarabia-Ortega died at Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center. Federal officials said he was a legal permanent resident.
Federal officials said Sarabia-Ortega initially was detained by Las Vegas police on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine pipes. After a background check was conducted, he was turned over to federal officials.
On Jan. 18, Las Vegan Anthony Barrett, 43, died after apparently swallowing a bag of cocaine just before Las Vegas police arrested him.
On Saturday, 31-year-old Farouk Hanga-Taylor died shortly after he was in custody at the county jail.
The man’s cellmate told Las Vegas police that Hanga-Taylor had a seizure about 1 p.m. He later died at University Medical Center.
Police said they were unaware that Hanga-Taylor had health problems.
He was arrested in August after he struck and killed a man with his vehicle. Police accuse Hanga-Taylor of fleeing the scene.
He was later arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and hit-and-run charges.
The cause and manner of deaths for all the men will be determined by the Clark County coroner’s office.
Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.
