A 41-year-old Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy died in a methamphetamine overdose at a sheriff’s station in April, according to authorities.
Jonathan Stewart died from the effects of methamphetamine April 27, the Los Angeles County medical examiner said is a report. The report labeled his death an accident.
The medical examiner identified Stewart’s place of death as a sheriff’s station. NBC Los Angeles reported in late April on Stewart’s death, saying it happened while he was on duty at the sheriff’s South Los Angeles station.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Jonathan Stewart. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. )
A sheriff’s representative could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday about how Stewart died, whether the sheriff’s department had any concerns before he died that he may have been using drugs, or whether and how often the department tests its employees for drugs.
Stewart’s death “deeply saddened” the sheriff’s department, it said in a statement April 29.
Stewart joined the department in 2006, and he graduated from the academy the next year, the statement said.
“During his tenure he was assigned to the Inmate Reception Center before transferring to South Los Angeles Station in 2014,” the sheriff’s department said. “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.”