3 correctional officers accused of murdering inmate
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Three correctional officers have been arrested on suspicion of murder in the death of an inmate at a San Francisco Bay Area county jail, reports CBS San Francisco.
According to the station, 31-year-old Michael Tyree died Thursday, August 27 at the Santa Clara County Jail.
Tyree, who is reportedly described in court documents as a transient, was serving a five-day sentence for misdemeanor petty theft.
The San Jose Mercury News reports that Tyree was in the protective custody unit and was waiting to be transferred to a mental-health facility at the time of his death.
According to the paper, correctional officers Matthew Farris, Jereh Lubrin and Rafael Rodriguez are accused of beating Tyree to death. The three were arrested Thursday and are being held without bail.
The paper reports that the corrections officers only acknowledged that a confrontation occurred after Tyree was found dead. They reportedly said the confrontation occurred because Tyree refused to take his medication.
CBS San Francisco reports Tyree has a history of drug arrests and mental illness.