In-Custody Death at Long Beach City Jail

LONG BEACH — The Long Beach Police Department or LBPD is investigating the death of an inmate at Long Beach City Jail on June 13.

LBPD reported at about 4 p.m., June 13, Long Beach jail detention officers were conducting routine inmate safety checks when their attention was drawn to an unresponsive inmate in the jail. Detention officers immediately entered the inmate’s cell and began rendering medical aid with the assistance of the jail nurse.

Long Beach Fire Department personnel responded to the jail and rendered medical aid, but resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful. The inmate was determined deceased at the scene.

The decedent has been identified as Steven Alfred Price, a 28-year-old male adult, who stated he was experiencing homelessness in the City of Anaheim. Price was arrested by the Long Beach Police Department at 10:45 a.m., June 12 for a parole violation, and there was not a use of force involving Price while he was in police custody.

Homicide detectives responded to the scene to investigate the incident. At this time, the incident is being investigated as an undetermined death. 

The Los Angeles County Department of the Medical Examiner-Coroner responded and will conduct an independent investigation and determine the cause of death.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office was notified of the incident.

Pursuant to AB 2761, LBPD will post the circumstances of Price’s death as well as demographic information on its website.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Eric Thai or Ethan Shear at 562-570-7244, or anonymously at 800-222-8477; and  www.lacrimestoppers.org.