YAKIMA, Wash.-The death of an inmate at the Yakima County Jail on Saturday, Dec. 23 is now under investigation.
According to the Yakima County Department of Corrections, the inmate was taken into custody shortly after 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21 on suspicion of criminal trespass, resisting arrest and shoplifting.
A Corrections Officer reportedly found the male inmate unresponsive laying on their bunk around 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 23.
The Corrections Officer started life-saving measures immediately upon seeing the inmate and was assisted by in-house medical staff, according to a Department of Corrections press release.
Ambulance crews and the Fire Department arrived, however, the life-saving measures were unsuccessful and the inmate was pronounced dead at the scene.
The inmate’s family has been notified of their death and an autopsy has been conducted, according to the Department of Corrections. The exact cause of death is pending toxicology results.
The Yakima County Sheriff’s Office was brought in to conduct the initial investigation and the Yakima Police Department is now conducting an independent investigation.
The Yakima County Department of Corrections is also conducting an independent internal investigation into the in-custody death.
