Banning Inmate 'Appears to Have Significant Medical Event,' Sustains Laceration, Dies Christmas Day

An inmate at Smith Correctional in Banning "appeared to have a significant medical event" early Christmas Day, fell and sustained a laceration, then died at a hospital, a sheriff's investigator based in Cabazon said Thursday.

Deputies at Smith Correctional Facility were alerted about 6:20 a.m. Dec. 25 "by an inmate that his cellmate was in need of medical attention within the facility," sheriff's Investigator Randy Thomas said in a statement distributed Dec. 26.

Deputies and medical personnel responded and found the unidentified inmate unresponsive and he had sustained a laceration, Thomas said.

"The inmate was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for further emergency treatment," Thomas said. "(However), he did not respond to the medical treatment and was pronounced deceased."

Investigators at Smith Correctional and from the Cabazon Station said the 52-year-old inmate "appeared to have a significant medical event, which caused him to fall and suffer an injury," Thomas said.

The identity of the deceased inmate was withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Smith Correctional is the largest lockup in Riverside County.

Anyone with more info was urged to call Thomas at (951) 922-7100.