LOS ANGELES, CA – Authorities are investigating the death of a 45-year-old inmate who died in his cell just two days after being booked on theft and drug-related charges at a maximum-security jail in Orange County, officials said.
The inmate, identified as Anthony Creston Brown of Cerritos, was discovered unresponsive inside his cell at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange on Sunday afternoon, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department confirmed in a statement.
Deputies and correctional medical staff immediately attempted life-saving measures, but Brown was pronounced dead at approximately 4:31 p.m., authorities said.
While the circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation, officials noted that preliminary findings showed no signs of foul play.
“A final cause of death will be determined pending the results of an independent autopsy and toxicology report,” the sheriff’s department stated.
Brown’s arrest occurred on Friday, December 27, when officers with the La Palma Police Department took him into custody on an outstanding warrant from Los Angeles County related to theft, authorities said.
While he was being processed at the Theo Lacy Facility, an additional charge was filed against him for possessing drugs or drug paraphernalia while in jail, officials added.
Authorities have not disclosed specific details about the theft allegations or clarified whether drugs may have been a contributing factor in Brown’s death.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has launched an investigation into the inmate’s death, which will run alongside a separate review conducted by the sheriff’s department.
The Theo Lacy Facility, where Brown was held, is a high-security jail complex housing individuals facing serious criminal charges and pre-trial detention. It is also one of the largest detention facilities in Orange County, with a capacity to hold more than 3,000 inmates.
Officials said further updates would be provided as soon as additional details become available.
