Jail resident dies following medical emergency at KCCF

Summary

A man passed away in the hospital on March 25 after suffering a medical emergency at the downtown Seattle jail the previous week.

News Release

A 28-year-old man died at Harborview Medical Center on Monday, March 25 after suffering a medical emergency while in custody at the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle several days earlier.

The man was in his cell, where he was the sole occupant, when an officer attempted to wake him for dinner shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday, March 21. The officer determined the man was not breathing. Jail Health staff provided first aid until paramedics arrived to take over lifesaving efforts. An ambulance later transported the man to Harborview Medical Center, where he passed away four days later.

The decedent had been in jail since January. He was booked on two warrants out of Seattle, one for 2nd degree burglary and 1st degree malicious mischief, and the other for possession of a stolen vehicle.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct a review to determine the cause and manner of death. The individual’s identity, and other details, will be released on the Medical Examiner’s website.

As part of the review process for all jail-related deaths, the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention will work with Public Health – Seattle & King County to conduct an internal investigation.
Jails and prisons in Washington are required to review all unexpected in-custody fatalities and publish a report on the findings within 120 days of the death. (See RCW 70.48.510). These reports are published online by Washington's Department of Health and the Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention.

For more information, contact:

• Noah Haglund, Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention communications specialist: nhaglund@kingcounty.gov, 206-263-1866.
• DAJDMediaInquiries@kingcounty.gov; 206-263-8554.