Man Suspected of Wife-Beating Found Hanged

A Pacoima man who was arrested on suspicion of felony wife-beating hanged himself a few hours later in his jail cell at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill Division, authorities said Sunday.

Hector Hernandez, 34, was found hanging from the top bunk bed of the cell about 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Detective Hal Schwabe said. Hernandez apparently tore a strip from a blanket and used it as a noose, Schwabe said.

Paramedics pronounced Hernandez dead at 7:25 p.m.

Police were called to Hernandez’s house earlier in the day after receiving reports of possible wife-beating, Schwabe said. When officers arrived, Hernandez’s common-law wife told police that her husband had hit her in the face, he said.

Hernandez, who was the only occupant of the cell, was last seen alive about 7 p.m. when guards delivered a dinner tray, Schwabe said. When they returned to pick up the tray 15 minutes later, Hernandez was hanging from the bed, police said.