Authorities investigating in-custody jail death of unhoused man

An incarcerated unhoused man died in custody at the Contra Costa County jail on Sunday evening, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Just after 5 p.m. at the Martinez Detention Facility, a deputy discovered an unresponsive man in his cell in the B module, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office said.

Jail staff and first responders attended to the man, but he was declared deceased at the scene.

The inmate is identified as Victor Jose Faria, 62, an unhoused person.

Faria was arrested by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office on Thursday for trespassing and a felony probation violation and was booked into the jail.

Faria’s death is being investigated by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office. His exact cause of death will be determined by a medical examiner.

This is the second in-custody death at the jail this month. On Jan. 9, inmate Kirk Richardson, 61, died after apparently banging his head in his cell, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

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