Detainee dies while in custody at Doa Ana County jail

A detainee at the Doa Ana County Detention Center died in the jail’s medical unit Thursday morning, sheriff’s investigators said.

Phillip Carrillo, 38, had been injured in an alleged drunk driving crash Aug. 9 and taken to a hospital before he was booked into the jail’s medical unit the following day.

Investigators said a nurse checked on Carrillo about 11 p.m. Wednesday and reported he was in stable condition. When the nurse returned to check on Carrillo about two hours later, he was unresponsive, sheriff’s investigators said.

Medics responded and tried to revive Carrillo but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead shortly after.

Investigators do not suspect foul play, but continue to investigates Carrillo’s death. Jail supervisors said Carrillo was housed alone and the entrance to his cell was under video surveillance.

Carrillo was arrested in suspicion of driving drunk after crashing. Investigators said he was not wearing his seat belt. According to a news release issued by the Doa Ana County Sheriff’s Office, jail staff refused to admit Carrillo because of injuries he received in the crash. He was then taken to the hospital.

Carrillo’s body was sent to the University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner in Albuquerque for an autopsy.