Excruciating final moments of jail inmate are released by California police in jaw-dropping video
Harrowing footage captured the excruciating final moments of a California inmate just two days after he was arrested.
Harrowing footage captured the excruciating final moments of a California inmate just two days after he was arrested.
The distressing clip was released by the Los Angeles Police Department on Tuesday, showing Steven Miller, 55, repeatedly collapsing and hitting his head inside a holding cell at Valley Jail in Van Nuys on March 11.
After hitting his head on the toilet inside the cell and several times on the concrete floor, prison officers came in and escorted him out in a wheelchair.
He was taken to the jails medical facility, but while he was being treated by staff he struggled to breathe and lost consciousness. Doctors claimed he was experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Paramedics with the LAFD then arrived at the scene and took over Millers care, but he did not respond to their life saving efforts and died about an hour after he initially fell over, Alex Chogyoji, commanding officer of media relations division of the LAPD, said.
In the beginning of the 15-minute long video, Miller was seen being arrested after LAPD officers pulled him over on March 9 around 1.15am after noticing his headlight was out.
An unidentified female passenger, whose face was blurred throughout the video, was inside the blue Infiniti sedan with Miller when he was pulled over.
He appeared very compliant in the bodycam footage, and when Miller was asked if he had ever been arrested before, he told authorities: Not for a long time.
Steven Miller, 55, was seen repeatedly slamming his head inside a holding cell at Valley Jail in Van Nuys on March 11
He first fell after walking over to the sink area, striking his on the toilet and then on the concrete floor
After collecting his information, the officers soon discovered he had an outstanding felony arrest warrant.
He was then told to turn off his ignition and step out of the vehicle as a cop slapped handcuffs on him while another cop combed through items in his car.
They soon found illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia inside the womans purse, but she denied it belonged to her.
Miller then said: Officer, Im giving you my word, everything in that car is mine.
Everything that’s in there is mine, all the drugs that are in that car are mine.
Miller was then transported and booked into jail for possession of illegal narcotics, Chogyoji said. It is unclear if the woman was arrested as well.
Approximately 16 hours after getting locked up, Miller told the jail medical staff he was a heroin user and that he was experiencing what he thought were narcotics withdrawal symptoms, the officer stated.
He was soon treated for his symptoms and cleared to return back to his holding cell, but thats when things got worse.
In the beginning of the 15-minute long video, Miller was seen being arrested after LAPD officers pulled him over on March 9 around 1.15am for a traffic stop after noticing his headlight was out
An unidentified female passenger, whose face was blurred throughout the video, was inside the blue Infiniti sedan with Miller when he was pulled over. It is unclear if she was arrested
After he was booked into jail, Miller told medical staff he was a heroin user and that he was experiencing what he thought were narcotics withdrawal symptoms
Around 5am, two days after he was booked, a shirtless Miller was seen suddenly getting out of his bed and walking over to the sink and toilet area inside the holding cell.
While standing near the sink, Miller abruptly collapsed and struck his head on the silver toilet and the cement floor.
He quickly got up, grabbing the wall with his hands as he did so, but fell down again and smacked his head on the ground again.
Miller then rolled over and momentarily rose to his feet as another inmate woke up and looked at him.
He then slammed into that persons bunk bed before face planting on the floor.
Another inmate then woke up as he fell just before he crawled and stood up again, but this time he smashed into his own bed and stumbled back to the ground.
A group of jail officers and medical staff soon came into the cell to assist Miller after another cell mate summoned them.
After falling twice, Miller stumbled into another inmates bunk and fell to the ground again
He soon made it back to his bed, but he lost his balance again and hit the floor
Several prison officers and medical personnel escorted him to to the medical facility where he later died
From there, Miller was seen putting on a t-shirt before being rolled out of the cell and taken to the prisons medical facility where staff began treating him.
While being treated by medical staff, Miller began to experience trouble breathing and lost consciousness, Chogyoji explained.
Paramedics then arrived at the scene and tried to save Millers life just before he was pronounced dead.
It is unclear exactly what caused Millers death. An investigation is underway to determine that, according to Jennifer Forkish, the public information director with the LAPD.
We will continue to interview any witnesses who may come forward and complete any necessary forensic test, Forkish said.