Two years ago, William Schuck crashed his car where Interstate 8 meets Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. San Diego police found a ghost gun and drugs in his possession and arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Six days after Schuck was booked into the county’s Central Jail, he was found slumped in his cell and unresponsive. He died despite the efforts of sheriff’s deputies, jail medical staff and paramedics who were called to the scene.
The medical examiner said later the 22-year-old had died with cocaine and ecstasy in his system. Now, an independent investigation by the county Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board, or CLERB, has found that Schuck obtained the drugs that killed him inside the jail.
The review board also found that deputies failed to provide Schuck access to a shower or even a mattress or sheets and towels during his week in custody and did not summon medical help when he appeared in distress.
“During this investigation, and in review of jail surveillance video recordings and other evidence, it was noted that Schuck was not afforded the opportunity to shower or bathe,” investigators said in the report that will be considered by the review board Tuesday.