Authorities are trying to figure out what led to the death of a man just after he was booked into Santa Barbara County’s Main Jail.
Jonathan Thomas was arrested Tuesday night by Santa Maria Police following a domestic violence incident. He was taken to the jail in Santa Barbara early Wednesday morning.
Jail officials say before and while he was being booked the 45-year-old man talked about suicide. They say he was deemed a danger to himself, and was taken to a special single occupant safety cell. As another precaution, deputies removed his clothes.
He was placed face down on the floor, and his handcuffs removed. But, deputies noticed a few minutes later, he wasn’t moving. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. An autopsy is pending.
