Spokane Man Dies Minutes After Being Placed In Jail Cell 28-Year-Old Fought Against Arrest, Was Finally Subdued By Five Officers
A 28-year-old Spokane man died at the Spokane County Jail Sunday morning, less than 10 minutes after being restrained and placed in a holding cell.
The cause of death has not been determined.
Mario J. Lozada, of 1907 W. Broadway, was arrested about 5 a.m. Sunday in an alley in the 1300 block of West Maxwell. Lozada, described as extremely violent, allegedly attacked four police officers.
He was one of two men arrested in the alley. Police had been called to the Rose Apartments, 1314 W. Maxwell, on a complaint of domestic violence, which didn’t involve Lozada or the other man, Shane C. Smith.
Smith, who gave his address as 1316 N. Stanley, was being held in jail Sunday night for resisting arrest and for failing to appear in court on minor charges.
Five officers were needed to arrest Lozada, according to a joint release from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department and police. Lozada continued to kick and fight officers after being handcuffed and placed in a patrol car, the release said.
Once at the jail, Lozada was placed in an “emergency response belt,” a device that holds a person’s elbows next to his body. Lozada was then placed in a holding cell.
Less than 10 minutes later, officers checked on him.
“He didn’t appear to be breathing,” said Sheriff’s Lt. David Wiyrick.
Lozada was pulled out of the cell shortly after 6 a.m., and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted. He was pronounced dead at 6:54 a.m. at the jail.
His body was taken to the county morgue. The Spokane County coroner’s office will perform an autopsy on Lozada, probably Tuesday, said Lori Taylor, a deputy coroner.
Lozada has 11 convictions, including three for assault, one for resisting arrest, malicious mischief and criminal trespass, authorities said.
Lozada’s wife, Tina, could not be reached Sunday.
The couple’s neighbor, Kelly Ralston, said Lozada was a nice man. The couple lived with Tina Lozada’s daughter and son, Ralston said.
“That’s just horrible,” she said. “Man, this is weird. I just saw him yesterday.”
Lozada was an acquaintance and Smith was a good friend of the man later arrested on domestic violence charges, the man’s mother said.
Donald R. Bowen, 21, of 1314 W. Maxwell, was arrested Sunday for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, who is several months pregnant.
Neighbors in the Rose Apartments said Saturday night was like any other night - loud.
“The noise around here in this area is pretty much every day,” said Dawno Mestrovich. “There’s always something going on.”
She didn’t hear anything late Saturday or early Sunday. Others did.
“All night, on and off,” said Ken Fisher, who just moved into his apartment. “It was just like a party. At about 5 this morning, I heard a woman scream.”
Sally Fred, Bowen’s mother, said her son knocked on her door about 6 a.m. Sunday.
He’d apparently had a fight with his live-in girlfriend, Fred said. At about 7:30 a.m., police banged on the door, she said. Police then arrested Bowen.
Fred was visibly upset when she heard about Lozada’s death.
“Is my son all right?” she asked. “You let them know, I love my son. I love him.”
Bowen was being held in jail Sunday night on charges of fourth-degree assault and failure to appear on counts of reckless driving and theft.
A team of detectives from the police and sheriff’s departments will investigate Lozada’s death. That’s protocol in deaths that could involve investigating police actions, such as Lozada’s.
“It’s just a very effective, professional way of handling the investigation,” Wiyrick said. “It alleviates complaints about somebody conducting their own investigation.”
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MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: The investigation A team of detectives from the police and sheriff’s departments will investigate Lozada’s death. That’s protocol in deaths that could involve police actions.