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Lawsuit filed over death of detainee

LANCASTER - The family of a man who died from accidental electrocution while in custody at a Lancaster immigrant detention center has filed a wrongful-death suit against several government agencies, raising new questions about safety as national authorities crack down on immigration violations.

Cesar Gonzalez 36, of Pomona, who had been held at the Mira Loma Detention Center for 10 months, died when he accidentally jackhammered into an underground power line while on a work detail, according to his family's attorney.

Gonzalez was a construction worker with a wife and two sons at the time of the December 2007 incident.

"It's a tragedy and severe injustice," attorney Gregory Moreno said. "This man was not a threat to anyone. He was a hardworking man with a good job and paying for a house, and he ends up in this tragedy."

After Gonzalez jackhammered into the underground high-voltage line, he was electrocuted as flames exploded around him, according to the suit   Read Full Article...