Carlton Callins, 49, Died in LAPD Custody at Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) After Being Arrested for Allegedly Refusing To Leave Union Station
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 9, 2025) – A 49-year-old man identified as Carlton Callins has tragically died in the custody of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident began around 10:15 PM on October 2. The LAPD was contacted by a private security officer regarding a person at Union Station.
Los Angeles Police Department officials encountered Carlton Callins. He was allegedly refusing to leave the area.
After some amount of time, he was arrested and transported to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC). Just two days after being arrested, Carlton Callins told jail staff that he was having difficultly breathing.
Paramedics were called to the scene to help him. He was transported to a local hospital to receive emergency care.
Sadly, he was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
Liability for Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
Los Angeles County has a particularly bad track record in relation to the treatment inmates receive. Many people have died in custody at Los Angeles County jails over the years. According to Vera, “On Wednesday, one more person died in the custody of Los Angeles County jails, bringing this year’s death toll to 38. Since the start of 2023, a staggering 115 people have died in LA jails.” Jails in Los Angeles County could be liable for the death of an inmate in their care if it was the result of deliberate indifference. Deliberate indifference could take many different forms in a jail setting.
- Medications: Jail officials may fail to provide an inmate with the medication that they need.
- Emergency Care: Jail officials may fail to properly monitor an inmate and delay getting them emergency care if they go into medical distress.
- Warning Signs: Jail officials may ignore warning signs that an inmate needs medical care for a serious condition.
- Unsafe Conditions: A jail may have failed to provide for the basic needs of an inmate. In many cases, inmates’ cells have contained mold or other pollutants that could contribute to respiratory failure.
All inmates have a constitutional right to receive due process and equal protection. When a jail doesn’t provide reasonably adequate care for the serious medical needs of inmates, this is a violation of their constitutional rights. Unfortunately, jails will virtually never accept responsibility when an inmate dies in their care. They will claim that many such deaths are natural, even when they show clear signs of medical neglect. This is why it is so important that all in-custody deaths are investigated by an outside party.
Steps to Take After a Los Angeles County Inmate Death
Inmate deaths remain far too common across Los Angeles and the United States. According to one study in the National Institutes of Health, “In 2019, there were approximately ten million admissions to more than 3,000 US jails—facilities that had become increasingly deadly in the prior decades. Between 2000 and 2019, jail mortality rose by approximately 11 percent.” It is important that certain steps are taken after any inmate dies in custody in Los Angeles County.
- Medical Records: All medical records related to the death should be captured. These can reveal whether or not the actions of jail officials were sufficient given the medical conditions an inmate was facing.
- Jail Records: Every jail keeps detailed records of the inmates in their care. These should be carefully reviewed for violations of internal policy.
- Legal Review: It is rare for jails to freely hand over all of the information related to any inmate death. This is why it is so important to have these incidents carefully reviewed by an experienced civil rights advocate.
Jail deaths can be complex events. The factors that contribute to any inmate death can take place hours, days, or weeks prior to the incident. Inmate deaths tend to be the result of systemic failures within any particular institution, as opposed to the negligent actions of a single person. Among other problems, jails may be severely overcrowded, which can impact the quality of care that all inmates receive.
Investigating Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Carlton Callins. Any person who may have more information should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. The sheer number of inmate deaths in recent months remains deeply concerning.
Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County inmate death? Our team of civil rights investigators is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that jails are held accountable for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
