On December 28, 2025, at approximately 10:48 PM, a police officer noticed an adult male slumped against a light pole at the intersection of S. Euclid St. and W. Orangethorpe Ave., according to the Fullerton Police Department.
The officer contacted the male and subsequently placed him under arrest for public intoxication. The male was cooperative, and he was transported to the Fullerton City Jail and booked at approximately 11:05 PM.
The Fullerton Police Department contracts with Allied Universal to provide jail services. In accordance with department policies and procedures, the on-duty jailer conducted a routine jail cell check on December 29, 2025, at approximately 12:05 AM. During that check, the inmate appeared to be asleep and breathing.
A subsequent jail cell check was conducted at approximately 1:05 AM, at which time the inmate was found unresponsive. The on-duty jailer immediately requested assistance and with the help of Fullerton police officers life-saving measures were initiated until relieved by the Fullerton Fire Department.
The male was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased by hospital staff.
There was no use of force by Fullerton police officers or contracted jail staff during the interaction, and the male remained cooperative throughout the contact. Fullerton police officers wear body-worn cameras, and the Fullerton City Jail facility is equipped with CCTV, which captured the interaction and the male’s stay at the facility.
As is standard practice for any in-custody death involving the Fullerton Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office was contacted and Investigators responded for an independent investigation of the circumstances leading up to, and the cause and manner of the in-custody death.
The male’s identity will be released by the Orange County Coroner at a time they deem appropriate.
Per State Law, the FPD will be releasing relevant videos, recordings, and images within 45 days via a Critical Incident Community Briefing Video.
Click here to see the Fullerton Police arrest log. The City of Santa Ana continues to refuse to make their own arrest log public.
Recent Fullerton Custody Deaths (2024–2025)
Fullerton has recorded at least three notable in-custody deaths in the past two years:
- December 29, 2025: A man arrested for public intoxication was found unresponsive in a Fullerton jail cell during a routine check shortly after midnight.
- April 20, 2025: 46-year-old Jose Luis Naranjo Cortez died after a violent confrontation with officers at Lemon Park. Police used a spit hood and restraints; Cortez suffered a medical emergency and died at a hospital.
- March 6, 2024: A 50-year-old man died after being struck in the chest by a “less-lethal” kinetic energy projectile fired by Fullerton officers during a confrontation at a restaurant.
Orange County Jail Death History (2023–2025)
While specific annual totals for the current year are still being finalized, broader trends show the following:
- 2025 Data: As of August 2025, the Orange County Office of Independent Review (OIR) reported at least 9 custodial deaths or deaths shortly after contact.
- Declining Trend: Across Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, jail deaths dropped by approximately 37% between 2022 and 2024, falling from 101 to 63 deaths across the region.
- Primary Causes: In a six-year review ending in December 2025, natural causes accounted for 45% of jail deaths, followed by drug overdoses (22%, half involving fentanyl) and suicides (14%).
Oversight and Investigations
All in-custody deaths in the county are subject to independent review:
- OC District Attorney: Conducts independent investigations into the circumstances, cause, and manner of every death.
- Office of Independent Review (OIR): Publishes reports on custodial deaths, though many 2024 and 2025 cases are currently listed as “pending” or “under review”.
- Public Reporting: Under California state law (AB 2761), the Orange County Sheriff’s Department must report custodial deaths, including the decedent’s age, race, and manner of death, on its public website.