UPDATED: MORENO VALLEY: 51-year-old Cathedral City resident dies in custody at RUHS

UPDATE: March 27, 11 p.m.

MORENO VALLEY – Coroner’s officials have released the name of the 51-year-old man who died while in sheriff’s custody Friday, March 24. The man died just two days after being arrested by Cathedral City police officers.

The inmate, who coroner’s officials have identified as Phillip Soto Garcia, of Cathedral City, died at 3:06 a.m., while being housed in the secured detention unit at the Riverside University Health System at 26520 Cactus Avenue in Moreno Valley.

“At this time, no foul play is suspected,” Clear said in an earlier press release. He explained the Riverside Sheriff’s Special Investigations Bureau-West was investigating Garcia’s death.

An online jail records search revealed Garcia was arrested Wednesday, March 22 by Cathedral City police officers. Jail records indicated he was arrested on Porter Drive in Cathedral City. Porter Drive is located west of Cathedral Canyon Drive and north of Terrace Road.

Garcia was being held on suspicion of causing harm or death to an elder or dependant adult, battery resulting in serious injury, felony assault with a deadly weapon, felony assault resulting in great bodily injury, vandalism and resisting arrest with violence.

No information regarding Garcia’s original arrest and charges was immediately available; however CCPD officials have been contacted regarding the circumstances of his arrest.

Garcia was scheduled to be arraigned at Larson Justice Center in Indio March 24, the same day as his death. Since his death, all charges against him have been dismissed or not filed.

In a written press release the day of Garcia’s death, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Wallace Clear explained, “(Garcia) experienced a medical emergency while being housed at the hospital about 3 a.m.”

“Medical staff at the hospital immediately started life saving efforts,” Clear wrote. “Despite their efforts, the male was pronounced deceased.”

Officials have not specified if Garcia had any pre-existing medical conditions that might have led to his death or why he was being held in the sheriff’s secured detention unit at the hospital.

The coroner’s release indicated Garcia’s “Location of Injury,” “Date of Injury” and “Time of Injury” were all pending further investigation and directed all additional questions to the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit.

The involvement of homicide investigators does not necessarily mean a death is being investigated as a homicide.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Investigator Harvey with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number RC17083002 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

ORIGINAL STORY:

MORENO VALLEY – A 51-year-old man died while in sheriff’s custody Friday, March 24. The inmate was being housed in the secured detention unit at the Riverside University Health System at 26520 Cactus Avenue in Moreno Valley.

The man, who officials have not identified pending notification of his family, experienced a medical emergency while being housed at the hospital about 3 a.m., according to Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Wallace Clear.

“Medical staff at the hospital immediately started life saving efforts,” Clear explained in a written press release the day of the man’s death. “Despite their efforts, the male was pronounced deceased.”

The Riverside Sheriff’s Special Investigations Bureau-West is investigating the man’s death.

Officials did not specify if the man had any pre-existing medical conditions that might have led to his death or why the man was being held in the sheriff’s secured detention unit at the hospital. Officials also did not say why the man was incarcerated.

“At this time, no foul play is suspected,” Clear said.

Anyone who may have information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Investigator Harvey with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number RC17083002 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.