Man found dead in jail cell

DOWNTOWN — Authorities are investigating the possible suicide of a 60-year-old man found hanging Sunday in the Burbank Police Jail.

Officers responded about 4:55 p.m. to a jail cell and found the body of John Alfred Flores, of Burbank, strangled by the metal cord of a pay phone, Sgt. Robert Quesada said. His name was released by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office Monday.

Police said the body was discovered by an inmate as he was being released from the jail.

“The jailer said, ‘Hey, I think that guy is trying to hang himself,’” Quesada said. “When the jailer went in, the body was limp.”

Paramedics pronounced Flores dead at the scene.

A medical examination was scheduled to take place in the coming days, and coroners would not speculate on the cause of death. Police do not suspect foul play, and at no time did Flores indicate to officers that he was suicidal, or particularly troubled, Quesada said.

Every cell at department headquarters has a pay phone. The length of the metal cords meets standards set by the state Department of Corrections, Deputy Chief Tom Angel said.

Quesada said it was the first time in recent memory that an inmate was found dead at Burbank Police Jail.

Police responded about 1 a.m. Saturday to a domestic violence call involving Flores.

He was booked about 3:25 a.m. on felony charges of inflicting injury on a spouse and was scheduled to be arraigned this week, Quesada said.

Flores was also booked on charges of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.