70-Year-Old Dies After Arrest at San Pablo Casino

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A 70-year-old man died after being arrested for allegedly refusing to leave the San Pablo Lytton Casino. Police say the man was handcuffed by casino security staff and taken into custody for trespassing, but experienced an unknown medical emergency while at the county jail, where he later died.

Why it matters

This incident raises questions about the use of force and medical protocols for individuals in police custody, especially for elderly individuals who may have underlying health conditions. The investigation will aim to determine if proper procedures were followed and if anything could have been done to prevent the tragic outcome.

The details

According to police, the incident began on Saturday around 10:44 p.m. when officers responded to a report of a banned guest who was refusing to leave the San Pablo Lytton Casino. Casino security staff told dispatchers the 70-year-old man was physically resisting and they were attempting to handcuff him. When officers arrived, the man was already in handcuffs, and police say there was no use of force by the responding officers. The man was then taken into custody for trespassing and booked at the Contra Costa County Jail. While at the jail, the man began experiencing an unknown medical emergency, and despite first aid efforts by jail staff and the fire department, he was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

• The incident began around 10:44 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2026.
• The man was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

What’s next

The San Pablo Police Department and Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office will continue their joint investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the man's death and whether any policies or procedures were not properly followed.