Man dies after fall in Vista jail cell; death ruled accidental

VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A man who was in custody at the Vista Detention Facility died earlier this year following a fall inside his jail cell, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department announced Friday.

James Pittman, 46, of Oceanside, passed away on Feb. 27, 2025, at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, nearly two weeks after the incident occurred. Pittman had been in custody since Jan. 3, 2023, on a murder charge.

According to the sheriff's department, Pittman was found by his cellmate in a distressed and unconscious state on Feb. 14, 2025, after falling from the top bunk of their shared two-person cell. The cellmate alerted deputies, who responded immediately and transported Pittman to the facility’s medical clinic.

He was then taken by Vista Fire Department paramedics to Palomar Medical Center, where he underwent a medical procedure and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. He remained hospitalized until his death.

An autopsy conducted by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Pittman died from blunt force injuries to the head. His death has been ruled accidental.

Sheriff’s homicide investigators were notified of Pittman’s death on the day he passed, and the Citizens' Law Enforcement Review Board has also been informed, as part of standard protocol for all in-custody deaths.

The sheriff's department said Pittman's family was kept informed throughout his hospital stay and continues to receive support from a sheriff's family liaison officer.

"The San Diego Sheriff's Office extends our sympathies to the Pittman family and all those affected by Mr. Pittman's passing," the department said in a statement.

A full investigation is ongoing "to ensure all aspects of this incident are examined," authorities explained.