Three California jail workers accused of beating inmate to death

Police in Santa Clara, California, arrested three corrections officers on Thursday and accused them of beating to death an inmate last week in a cell at the county jail, local media reported on Thursday.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the arrests, which were reported by media including the San Jose Mercury News.

The Mercury News said the three suspects are being held without bail. The newspaper said they work under the sheriff's office, but are not fully sworn deputies.

The media reports said the three are suspected of beating to death Michael James Tyree, 31, on Aug. 27 while Tyree was waiting to be transferred to a mental health facility.

The Mercury News said that Tyree died after apparently suffering massive internal bleeding following an encounter with the officers in his cell.

The paper said Tyree had appeared in a special mental health court three days earlier to plead no contest to petty theft.