Victorville– 34-year-old Willie Blair of Victorville died after being taken into custody by San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies. 
Incident Details
At around 7:45 p.m. on July 5, 2026, deputies responded to reports of a man acting violently and erratically towards family members at a home on 15400 block of Lindero Street. Upon arrival, they encountered Blair in a vehicle in the home’s driveway. He appeared to be under the influence of drugs and medical aid was requested for him. Deputies say Blair would become uncooperative and advanced on them, who responded by deploying a Taser. Blair would be detained and taken to a local hospital, where he would later be pronounced deceased
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division is investigating this incident.
Legal Oversight and Standards
California requires law enforcement agencies to report all deaths in custody under California Government Code § 12525.
Investigators will evaluate:
- Whether appropriate monitoring and safety-check procedures were followed
- The timeliness and adequacy of the medical response
- Whether any environmental or procedural factors contributed to the emergency
- Compliance with state and local jail-safety standards
If authorities determine that unconstitutional conduct, negligence, or inadequate medical care contributed to the death, families may pursue civil-rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Seeking Accountability for In Custody Deaths
If you witnessed this incident, knew Willie Blair, or are seeking to understand your rights, consider the following steps:
1. Request Public Records
This may include medical logs, transportation-area surveillance footage, emergency-response records, and coroner findings.
2. Preserve Any Evidence You Have
Document the time, location, and what you observed. Save any videos, photos, or notes related to the incident.
3. Consult with a Civil-Rights Attorney
How can our firm assist with an investigation? Should you decide to consult with our firm, our investigation typically includes some or all the following investigative activities
- obtaining and reviewing medical records, autopsy reports and blood toxicology screening reports
- requesting a Public Records Request Act for documents and evidence for locating and interviewing critical witnesses to an incident
- subpoenaing third party entities if our firm is retained and a lawsuit is initiated
- securing surveillance video evidence, and at minimum, placing the jail entity on notice to preserve potential video and tangible evidence of an incident.
- identifying and contacting potential witnesses, if available.
What should I know if I want to file a wrongful death lawsuit?
Contact our experienced Civil Rights lawyers so we can analyze all your options and hear the specifics of your case. We will also assess your loved one’s history with the jail facility they were treated at. Having as much documentation and physical evidence as possible will help prove your wrongful death case so our attorneys can examine them and help bring you and your loved one justice.
If you or a loved one has been impacted by an in-custody death such as this one involving Willie Blair, contact The Sehat Law Firm at (949) 825-5200 for a free consultation, or complete the confidential form at the bottom of this page to speak with our legal team.
Legal Disclaimer:
This article provides general information only and should not be considered legal or medical advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary, and any referenced here may not apply to your situation. This article was created from secondary sources and may not be completely accurate. If you have any concerns, please contact us, and we will update or remove the post as needed.
