A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who died at the sheriff’s South Los Angeles station in April perished from the “effects of methamphetamine,” authorities said.
Deputy Jonathan Stewart, 41, died on April 27. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said earlier this week that he died from meth, and termed the manner of death as an “accident,” according to the agency’s website.
The sheriff’s department had no immediate comment on the report when reached Saturday.
Personnel at the sheriff’s South Los Angeles station called for an ambulance about 9 p.m. the day of Stewart’s death regarding an “unresponsive deputy,” Deputy Tracy Koerner told City News Service.
Stewart, 41, died at the scene.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the unexpected passing of Deputy Jonathan Stewart,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement on Facebook in April.
“Jonathan joined the department in 2006 as a custody assistant and a year later he graduated from academy class 364, honorably serving the residents of Los Angeles County,” the statement said. “During his tenure he was assigned to the Inmate Reception Center before transferring to South Los Angeles Station in 2014.
“In 2020, he was promoted to field training officer, a position he held until his passing. Jonathan dedicated a decade serving the South Los Angeles community — he was respected and highly regarded by his peers and supervisors for his unwavering commitment. Jonathan is survived by his wife and three children.”
A procession was held as Stewart’s body was moved from the South Los Angeles station in the unincorporated Athens area, near Normandie Avenue and the 105 Freeway, to the medical examiner’s headquarters in Boyle Heights.
