Anaheim Police Department Jail: Man Dies After Being Restrained Face Down in a Cell
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA (December 5, 2024): Vinh Quang Nguyen, 35, died in custody after Anaheim Police Department jail staff restrained him face down on the floor of a cell, according to a custodial death report released on October 1, 2026 by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) and reported by KTLA. Nguyen went into cardiac arrest at the Anaheim Police Department jail on the night of December 5, 2024, and was pronounced dead at Anaheim Regional Medical Center on December 9, 2024. The OCDA found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Anaheim police personnel.
According to the report, officers responded on December 5 to an altercation between two men in the parking lot of the Beach Side Inn on South Beach Boulevard and found Nguyen inside an SUV. They described him as behaving erratically, breathing heavily and sweating, suspected drug intoxication and called paramedics. After a standoff of about 30 minutes, he was arrested at about 8:02 p.m. and placed in handcuffs, a leg restraint and a spit mask. Paramedics evaluated him and did not recommend further treatment.
The report says Nguyen resisted officers during booking. At about 8:56 p.m., correctional officers carried him into a cell and placed him face down on the floor, and one officer put his knees against Nguyen’s back and upper torso while trying to remove the handcuffs, KTLA reported. Officers left him face down at about 9:02 p.m. Less than two minutes later, staff noticed shallow breathing and purple lips, called paramedics and gave three doses of Narcan, CPR and oxygen. He never regained consciousness.
The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner found no fatal traumatic injuries, listed the cause of death as complications of methamphetamine intoxication with exertion during restraint as a contributing condition, and ruled the death an accident, according to the OCDA. Prosecutors concluded that officers used appropriate force and responded promptly, and closed the review without charges. The report states that Nguyen had no criminal history.
The published accounts do not say whether the Anaheim Police Department conducted its own administrative review or whether the video reviewed by prosecutors will be released.
Liability for Anaheim Police Jail Deaths
A criminal review and a civil claim ask different questions. Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, people in police custody are generally protected against excessive force and deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. California Government Code § 845.6 generally makes a public entity responsible when an employee knows a person in custody needs immediate medical care and fails to reasonably summon it. Families may generally bring wrongful death claims under Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60.
- Face down restraint: An officer pressed his knees against Nguyen’s back while he lay face down, and the coroner listed exertion during restraint as a contributing condition. How long he was held that way is a central fact.
- Early warning signs: Officers suspected drug intoxication from the start. Whether that warning should have changed how jail staff handled and monitored him is a question under Section 845.6 and federal law.
- Medical clearance: Paramedics did not recommend treatment before booking. What they were told and observed can matter.
- Video evidence: Body camera and jail surveillance video are the most complete record of the minutes before the first signs of distress.
A finding that no crime was committed does not decide civil questions, which use a different standard. The City of Anaheim operates the police jail and is generally responsible for the conduct, training and policies of its employees.
Steps to Take After a Death in the Anaheim Police Jail
California law requires local agencies to report every death in custody to the state Attorney General. Families who lose someone in police custody can generally:
- Read the full report: The OCDA posts its custodial death letters online, with the evidence reviewed and its conclusions.
- Request coroner records: Next of kin can generally ask the Sheriff-Coroner for the autopsy and toxicology reports.
- Ask for video and records: Request body camera footage, jail video and booking records in writing under the California Public Records Act.
- Keep a timeline: Note every contact with the department, the hospital and the coroner, with dates and names.
Deadlines matter. Claims against a public entity such as a city generally must be presented within six months under Government Code § 911.2, and wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits are generally subject to the two-year limit in Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Federal civil rights claims follow their own rules, and how any deadline applies depends on the facts. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.
Investigating the Death of Vinh Quang Nguyen
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C., a personal injury and civil rights law firm in Irvine, California, extend our condolences to the family and friends of Vinh Quang Nguyen. We previously reported on the death of Manuel Moreno in an Orange County jail and the death of Edson Rosas-Medrano at the Theo Lacy Facility. Two questions stand out: what guidance did jail staff have about holding a person face down after officers had flagged possible drug intoxication, and how was his breathing monitored before staff saw his lips turn purple?
If a loved one died or was seriously injured while in custody anywhere in California, our civil rights attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on October 14, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on December 5, 2024.
