On August 26, 2019, at about 8:05 p.m., a deputy was conducting a security check inside a housing unit at the Vista Detention Facility and noticed forty-eight-year-old Julio Ortiz Lopez did not appear to be moving in his cell. The deputy called for another deputy to respond so they could go inside the cell and check on Lopez. They entered and found Lopez unresponsive in his cell. Deputies initiated life-saving measures and jail medical staff responded as well as the Vista Fire Department. Despite life-saving measures, Lopez was declared deceased at about 8:33 p.m. The Sheriff’s Homicide Unit responded to investigate the death. Lopez was housed with one other inmate, although the inmate was not present when the incident occurred and no evidence of foul play was discovered. Lopez had been in custody for two days following a drunk in public arrest and an outstanding warrant for failing to appear on another court case for being drunk in public.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office has conducted an autopsy and provided a report of the results to the Homicide Unit on January 27, 2020. Lopez’ cause of death was choking and the manner of death,suicide.
