The inmate at the Morongo Basin Jail who committed suicide Tuesday night had been in court Monday for an arraignment of violating a restraining order filed against him. The 28-year-old inmate, from Twentynine Palms who is not being identified by Z107.7 News, was arrested March 20 after family members called to report that he had violated the restraining order by entering his parents’ home in Twentynine Palms and refused to leave. Sources have told Z107.7 that the man was depressed and should have been on suicide watch, and that he was not given his medication. A deputy making his hourly rounds discovered the inmate–who was alone in his cell–hanging in his cell just before 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night and called paramedics who pronounced the man deceased at the scene. Family members complained that they were not notified of his death until Wednesday morning. The Sheriff’s homicide detail is investigating the death.
