Inmate Brayan Soto (Full Name: Brayan Alexander Soto) Died Due To Fentanyl and Diphenhydramine Toxicity At Men’s Central Jail In Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (November 6, 2023) – A 20-year-old inmate identified as Brayan Soto has tragically died from an accidental drug overdose at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident began on August 9th. Correctional officers noticed that Brayan Soto was unresponsive in his jail cell.

Jail and medical staff entered his cell and began life-saving measures. The inmate was transported to the intensive care unit in order to receive additional care.

Despite life-saving measures, Brayan Soto was later pronounced dead. The medical examiner has listed his cause of death as “Fentanyl and Diphenhydramine Toxicity.”

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

 

Liability For Los Angeles County Jail Deaths

Drug overdoses remain one of the leading causes of in-custody deaths in California and across the United States. According to National Public Radio, “From 2001 to 2018, the number of people who have died of drug or alcohol intoxication in state prisons rose more than 600%, according to an analysis of newly-released data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. In county jails, overdose deaths increased by more than 200%.” Part of the problem is that jails have been flooded with illicit drugs such as fentanyl. There are a number of signs that an inmate may be overdosing on fentanyl.

• A fentanyl overdose can cause small, constricted pupils.
• A fentanyl overdose can cause slow, weak or shallow breathing.
• A fentanyl overdose can cause a person’s body to go limp.
• A fentanyl overdose can cause discolored skin (especially in the lips and nails).

All inmates have a constitutional right to receive reasonably adequate healthcare. This includes care for acute medical emergencies such as drug overdoses. There are a number of steps that jails should take if they suspect an inmate is going through an opioid overdose. For starters, inmates should get Narcan, which can be used to reverse the effects of an overdose. They should also be given CPR and rushed to the hospital. Any delay in care can prove to be lethal. Jails should take a number of steps to prevent overdose deaths.

• Jails should do everything that they can to prevent drugs and other illicit substances from entering the prison system.
• Jails should be supplied with Narcan.
• Correctional officers should be well-trained to identify the signs of an overdose.

While prisons are intended to be controlled environments, illegal substances and drug still come in through a variety of different sources. When an inmate is going through an overdose jail officials must act. If jail officials are deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate who dies, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. The family of any person that died in-custody may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.

 

Investigating Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Brayan Soto. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong for the sake of the victim and his family. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.

Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County in-custody death? Our team of civil rights advocates are here for you. We are committed to helping inmates understand their rights and working to make jails safer for everyone. We focus entirely on helping people who have been harmed by law enforcement abuses and jail neglect. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we may be able to help. You can reach out to us anytime at  (949) 825-5200.