An autopsy has determined that the death last winter of a San Diego jail inmate stemmed from the cumulative effects of long-term drug use.
Deputies and a nurse distributing medication at San Diego Central Jail at about 4:30 a.m. on Feb. 18 found Irving Pineda, 35, slumped over a table in his cell, seemingly in “medical distress,” according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
Jailers performed CPR on Pineda prior to the arrival of paramedics, who took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that morning, sheriff’s Lt. Juan Marquez said.
The county Medical Examiner’s Office has determined that Pineda died of chronic substance abuse, complicated by the combined toxic effects of buprenorphine, diazepam, methamphetamine and phenylephrine.
Hypertensive cardiovascular disease was a significant contributing factor, according to the agency, which classified his manner of death as accidental.
At the time of his fatal medical emergency, Pineda had been in jail for six days on suspicion of grand theft and violation of a court order.
(Photo: KGTV)