The family of a man who died at San Diego Central Jail held a rally outside the downtown facility Friday on the third anniversary of his death.
They are seeking answers regarding the circumstances behind the death of Jerrell Lacy, 38, along with reform in the county’s jail system.
Lacy died on April 11, 2022 from what sheriff’s officials described at the time of his death as natural causes.
His family says Lacy complained of symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath and was cleared to go to a hospital. But according to a 2023 report from the county’s Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board, Lacy was returned to his cell just before he was transported, went into medical distress and died shortly thereafter.
Lacy’s mother, Vickie Lewis, said she had to raise her son’s medical issues with the jail’s staff because they weren’t checking on Lacy. She believes her son’s ongoing mental health issues led jail staff to ignore his physical concerns.
The review board’s report says relevant surveillance footage from the day of Lacy’s death has not been preserved. Lacy’s family says the video could have helped determine whether more could have been done.
His loved ones also say they haven’t received sufficient information regarding a use-of-force incident that occurred just over a week before Lacy died. He had told his mother a deputy “burst my head,” leading to his hospitalization.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner ultimately ruled that his cause of death was pulmonary thromboembolic disease due to deep vein thrombosis. Though his death was ruled natural, Lewis said she believes the use-of-force incident could have exacerbated her son’s health problems.
Paloma Serna of the nonprofit Saving Lives In Custody California, said in a statement, “This is not just about Jerrell. It’s about every person who has died preventable (deaths) behind bars while their families are left in the dark. We are calling for accountability, not just for Jerrell, but for the future of justice in San Diego County.”
Paloma is the mother of Elisa Serna, 24, who died at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in Santee six years ago. The county settled a civil suit last year in Serna’s death.
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