In Johnson v. County of Los Angeles (1983) 143 Cal.App.3d 298, the decedent told the sheriff's deputies that he was trying to commit suicide and asked them to kill him. (Johnson v. County of Los Angeles, supra, 143 Cal.App.3d at p. 304.) In addition, the deputies expressly told the decedent's family that they would take care of the decedent and advised the family not to interfere. The decedent was released from custody without notice to his family, and he killed himself soon thereafter. (Ibid.) Under those circumstances, the court found that the deputies could potentially be liable for failing to warn the decedent's family that he was to be released from custody. (Id. at pp. 312-314.) In short, the sheriff knew a prisoner was suicidal, but released him without summoning medical care or warning his family. (Id. at pp. 316-317.) The prisoner committed suicide. The court held the county would be liable under Government Code section 845.6 if the sheriff knew or had reason to know the prisoner was in need of immediate medical care, but released him without summoning assistance. (Id. at p. 316.)