UPDATE: Families of two inmates, Callen Lines and Corey Dean, have filed urgent civil rights lawsuits against the San Diego Sheriff’s Office and its medical contractor, alleging systemic neglect led to their tragic deaths. The lawsuits were lodged in federal court last week, revealing harrowing details about the conditions that contributed to these fatalities.
Both Lines and Dean died in separate incidents at San Diego jails, and their families are now demanding accountability. Lines, a 31-year-old nursing assistant and mother of two, died from drug withdrawal in the Las Colinas women’s jail on May 11, 2023, just one day after her arrest. Dean, aged 43 and suffering from schizophrenia, died two months later in the Vista jail after weeks in solitary confinement.
The lawsuits allege that jail staff ignored repeated pleas for medical help from both inmates. Lines had previously suffered a withdrawal-related seizure just weeks before her death, yet was not given adequate monitoring or treatment while in custody. Eyewitness accounts from fellow inmates describe Lines desperately pressing her intercom and begging deputies for assistance, only to be dismissed and ridiculed.
“She sat down right in front of the cell door window,” the lawsuit quotes her cellmate, who later found Lines unresponsive. The lawsuit claims her death is a direct result of the Sheriff’s Office’s long-standing negligence regarding inmates in withdrawal, pointing to prior similar deaths and warnings from health care oversight bodies.
In a parallel case, Dean’s family claims that jail staff knew of his severe mental health issues but failed to address them adequately. Despite his distressing behavior, which included flooding his cell to gain attention, he was not moved to appropriate mental health housing and instead spent his last days in administrative separation.
The lawsuit highlights that, despite recommendations for his transfer to a mental health unit, Dean remained untreated until it was too late. Witnesses report he spent his final hours crying out for help, only to be ignored.
Both lawsuits emphasize a pattern of neglect within the San Diego jail system, with attorneys stating that the county is well aware of the serious deficiencies in medical and mental health care. They demand immediate reforms to prevent further tragedies.
In 2022 alone, 19 inmates died in San Diego jails, with ongoing concerns about safety and care for vulnerable populations. Sheriff Kelly Martinez has publicly committed to improving conditions within the jails, yet the families of Lines and Dean argue that promises are not enough.
As these lawsuits unfold, there is an urgent call for systemic change within the San Diego jail system to protect inmates and ensure their right to proper medical care. The families seek justice not just for their loved ones, but for all individuals who may find themselves in similar perilous situations.
Watch for updates as this developing story continues to evolve.
