Man Who Died In Custody Identified By Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — A 40-year-old man who died Saturday in police custody has been identified by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. While Kevin Allen was being processed at county jail he suffered cardiac difficulties before becoming "semi-conscious," Santa Cruz police said in a release. Allen was taken by paramedics to Dominican Hospital where he was pronounced dead. An investigation is being conducted into determining the cause of his death.

Allen was taken into custody Saturday by Santa Cruz police after he was found on the ground in the area of River and Water streets in Santa Cruz. Officers determined he was under the influence and took him to county jail.

"The Santa Cruz Police Department is working with the Santa Cruz County District attorney's Office, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff Forensic Unit, and Coroner's office" to determine what happened, police said, including a review of body camera video, witness interviews and other
possible evidence, police said.