Sheriff: Inmate at York County jail found dead in cell. It’s not connected to coronavirus.
South Carolina police are investigating after an inmate at the York County jail was found dead in his cell Friday, officials said.
The death is not related to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, said Trent Faris, spokesman for the York County Sheriff’s Office.
The inmate was found unresponsive in his cell around 1:15 p.m., Faris said. Detention officers and EMS workers were not able to revive the inmate, Faris said. No foul play is suspected, Faris said.
Agents from the State Law Enforcement Division and officials from the York County Coroner’s Office are investigating. The identity of the inmate, who was recently booked into the jail, has not been released.
The sheriff’s office operates the county jail in York County. In South Carolina by law, the county sheriff is responsible for running the county jail.
An investigation by SLED, an outside agency, is regular procedure after an inmate death, according to York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson.
The county jail population has dropped more than 25% in the past two weeks amid coronavirus safety concerns, officials told The Herald this week. Court officials have held emergency bond, bail and other hearings for many inmates in the jail and population has dropped from more than 450 to about 270.
No jail inmates or staff have tested positive for coronavirus, court officials said Friday when an emergency bond hearing was held for a white nationalist in the jail.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
