There has been a rash of deaths of inmates in the custody of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department this month, with three men dying from unknown causes or for inexplicable reasons within two weeks.
Jabari Betts, 47 of Victorville, died on May 1, a week after his arrest.
Cesar Villalpando, 32 of Apple Valley who was arrested on May 9, expired within several hours of his arrest.
Phillip Lester, 66 of Moreno Valley died on May 11, 55 days after his arrest on March 17.
Betts and Lester were being housed at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
Villalpando was jailed at the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto.
In all three cases, each was transported to a hospital, where the official pronouncement of death took place.
Betts had been arrested on Thursday, April 24, at the at the Victor Valley Global Medical Center in Victorville by sheriff’s deputies who had come to that location following a report that he had been “threatening the medical facility’s security staff,” according to the sheriff’s department. There is reason to believe Betts had been punched in the head or that a deputy had rammed him in the head with a nightstick when making the arrest. He was also slammed to the ground. He remained jailed in lieu of $10,000 bail upon the district attorney’s office filing misdemeanor counts of trespassing and batter on a peace officer. Despite having been knocked senseless and suffering severe headaches, he was sentient enough to be be able to plead not guilty before Judge Rasheed Alexander to the two charges on April 29.
The next day, on April 30, Betts was “discovered” to be “suffering from a pre-existing medical issue” while in a cell at West Valley Detention Center. He was transferred to a hospital for treatment. He died the next day. There is no reason nor need to investigate his death, according to the department.
Villalpando was arrested on Friday, May 9 just after 4 p.m. at Walgreens Drug Store, located at 21650 Highway 18 in Apple Valley. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies had been summoned to Walgreens in response to an “unwanted person.” Villalpando was found in the restroom inside a stall, according to the department. 
“Villalpando appeared to be under the influence of drugs and was detained without incident,” the statement said. “Medical personnel also responded, evaluated him and he was cleared for booking.”
Villalpando was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
By the time deputies arrived at the High Desert Detention Facility, located at 9438 Commerce Way in Adelanto, at 5:10 p.m., Villalpando was unconscious, according to the department. An effort to revive Villalpando was made, including the administration of naloxone anti-overdose medication. The facilities medical staff was summoned. A decision to transport him to a hospital was made. At the hospital, Villalpando “was pronounced deceased,” according to the department.
The investigation into Villalpando’s death is being investigated by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division.
“Villalpando appeared to be under the influence of drugs and was detained without incident,” the statement said. “Medical personnel also responded, evaluated him and he was cleared for booking.”
Lester was jailed at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on March 17 after he surrendered to the sheriff’s department on an assault warrant.
On May 8, according to detention center personnel, Lester was having difficulty walking and “also had trouble breathing.” According to the department, “[D]eputies assisted him to an area inside the housing unit to be evaluated by medical personnel.”
Thereafter, Lester was admitted to a hospital with what the sheriff’s department said had been determined to be “various serious illnesses.” Lester expired three days later of yet undetermined causes.
The coroner’s office, a division of the sheriff’s department, is looking into the cause of death.