Jan. 08--A 27-year-old man apparently hanged himself in a Wahiawa police substation holding cell Saturday morning, police said.
The Wahiawa substation arrest log identified him as Luis J. Lopez of Waialua.
Lopez, believed to be the husband of a Schofield Barracks soldier, was pulled over on suspicion of speeding near Kamehameha Avenue and Kamananui Road about 4:10 a.m. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, reckless endangering and speeding, according to the police booking log.
The victim was found alone and unconscious in his holding cell at the substation on North Cane Street about 7 a.m., Honolulu police Deputy Chief Dave Kajihiro said. His T-shirt was nearby, he said.
He was taken in critical condition to Wahiawa General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to a city Emergency Medical Services Division supervisor.
Kajihiro said the case is being investigated as an unattended death/suicide and there do not appear to be suspicious circumstances. There were no witnesses and the cells are not equipped with video cameras, he said.
Holding-cell suicides are "very, very rare," Kajihiro added. Detainees are typically checked on at least every 15 minutes or so, he said.
Wahiawa District Maj. Moana Heu said the substation has eight holding cells. Four were in use at the time of the incident, she said.
Hawaii News Now video: Prisoner dies while in custody at Wahiawa police substation
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