Crime & Safety

Inmate Who Died In Santa Rita Jail ID'ed As Unhoused Livermore Man

26-year-old Eric Magana died April 27, after suffering what Alameda County sheriff's officials said was a medical emergency.

Magana was booked into the jail on March 28 by Livermore police and was placed in a cell by himself in a restrictive housing unit due to what sheriff's officials said was an "extensive assaultive history on staff."
Magana was booked into the jail on March 28 by Livermore police and was placed in a cell by himself in a restrictive housing unit due to what sheriff's officials said was an "extensive assaultive history on staff." (Google Maps)

DUBLIN, CA — A man who died in Santa Rita Jail last month was identified Thursday as Eric Magana, a homeless person from the Livermore area, according to the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.

The 26-year-old Magana died April 27, after suffering what Alameda County sheriff's officials said was a medical emergency.

Magana was booked into the jail on March 28 by Livermore police and was placed in a cell by himself in a restrictive housing unit due to what sheriff's officials said was an "extensive assaultive history on staff."

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During the intake process, Magana allegedly admitted to using drugs the day before his arrest, but "there was no cause for concern found during the medical and mental health intake process," sheriff's officials said the day after he died.

On April 27 at about 10:35 a.m., a deputy allegedly saw Magana drinking "a profuse amount of water" from the sink in his cell and vomiting.

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Magana was taken to the jail's outpatient housing unit for observation, and at about 3:25 p.m. he was found unresponsive in his bed, sheriff's officials said.

He was pronounced dead at 4:05 p.m. despite attempts to save his life by jail medical staff and paramedics, according to the sheriff's office.

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office was notified of the death and a report will be submitted to the California Attorney General's Office.


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