Inmate found hanging in West Valley jail cell by his T-shirt

An inmate at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga died Monday, three
days after a deputy discovered him hanging by his white, cotton T-shirt in his jail
cell, officials said.

At 11:20 p.m. Friday, a deputy found 23-year-old Lucerne Valley resident Alvaro
Ortega hanging in his cell, said sheriff’s spokeswoman Arden Wiltshire.

Ortega, who had 11 counts pending against him, was taken to Kaiser Permanente
Hospital in Fontana and pronounced dead at 10:55 a.m. Monday, said coroner’s
spokeswoman Sandy Fatland.

The autopsy will be conducted by Riverside County officials because the death took place in the Sheriff’s Department’s custody.

Ortega was arrested on Jan. 18, 2008 and being held on $250,000 bail, Wiltshire said.

Ortega was charged with eight counts of robbery, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of attempted robbery.

By Jason Pesick on January 14, 2009 4:45 PM