SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane County Detention Services Staff are conducting an investigation Thursday after an inmate died in a cell early Thursday morning.
Officers responded to a cell at the Spokane County Jail after an emergency alarm was activated.
When officers arrived, they found one of the inmates having trouble breathing and suffering from shortness of breath. Medical treatment efforts were provided; however, despite their efforts, the inmate was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to officials, the deceased inmate was involved in a physical fight with another inmate a few minutes prior to the emergency alarm.
Officials said the deceased inmate was being held on two felony charges awaiting trial. The inmate was in custody for almost two years.
“This is a tragedy that Spokane County Detention Services takes very seriously. Any death that occurs while in custody is tragic and we do everything in our power to prevent inmates from causing harm to themselves or others," said Detention Services Director John McGrath. "While this death remains under investigation, the other recent losses of life at the jail have hastened our focus on enlisting the help of nationally recognized consultants to address our policies regarding suicide prevention and medical emergencies."
This is now the seventh in-custody death at the jail in the past 14-months. In the past decade, 20 people died in the Spokane County jail and that includes the most recent deaths.
Officials are still investigating the case.
