Inmate Dies Awaiting COVID Test Results At Martinez Jail

MARTINEZ, CA — A Contra Costa County jail inmate died Tuesday at the Martinez jail after he was treated at a hospital for injuries suffered in a fight with other inmates, the sheriff's office said.

The fight was reported at 5:07 p.m. Monday at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond, and Ezekiel McCoy, 30, of El Sobrante, was taken by ambulance at 6:30 p.m. Monday to Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez.

Around 12:15 a.m. Tuesday after McCoy was treated and cleared by hospital staff, he was brought to the Martinez Detention Facility. According to the sheriff's office, McCoy was then placed in a negative airflow room at the Martinez jail pending the result of a test for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

"He was checked on throughout the day and last checked at 4:23 p.m.," Contra Costa County Sheriff's Spokesman Jimmy Lee said. "About nine minutes later, deputies found McCoy unresponsive. Deputies and medical staff provided lifesaving measures. The fire department was at MDF on an unrelated incident, and they responded immediately."

McCoy was later pronounced dead at the scene, Lee said.

Wednesday, the sheriff's office and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office were continuing to investigate the in-custody death under the county's officer-involved fatal incident protocol.

McCoy was booked into the Martinez jail on July 28 when he was arrested by the Pinole Police Department. He was being held in lieu of $1.48 million bail on suspicion of numerous charges, including attempted murder, child endangerment, burglary, having a concealed weapon in his car, domestic violence, making criminal threats, and probation violation.

Information was not provided about the type or severity of injuries McCoy suffered in the fight, nor was it immediately clear whether McCoy was tested for COVID-19 as a procedure when he returned to the jail or because he exhibited symptoms.

The sheriff's office referred questions about McCoy's medical treatment to Contra Costa Health Services. Patch sent an email inquiry late Wednesday to CCHS and was awaiting a response at the time of publication.

The sheriff's office asked anyone with any information about the in-custody death or anything leading up to it to call the Investigation Division at 925-313-2600 or Sheriff’s Office dispatchers at 925-646-2441. Tips can be submitted via email to tips@so.cccounty.us or by leaving an anonymous voice message at 866-846-3592.