The Colorado Bureau of Investigations is examining an inmate death at the Montezuma County jail. It\u2019s the second reported inmate death to occur in four months.<\/p>\n
According to Sheriff Dennis Spruell\u2019s Facebook page, the unnamed inmate was brought into the jail around 1 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. The social media site reveals the inmate was \u201chighly intoxicated,\u201d and transported to an unnamed hospital for a medical clearance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe jail requires all suspects to receive a medical clearance if they are highly intoxicated or have obvious injuries,\u201d Sheriff Spruell posted Monday morning.<\/p>\n
After being cleared at the hospital, the inmate was returned to the jail at an unknown time. The Facebook post indicates the inmate was booked at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
According to the social media post, it appears a nurse was not on duty, but the inmate was placed on a medical watch.<\/p>\n
\u201cA medical watch requires detention staff to physically check on the prisoner every 30 minutes,\u201d Spruell posted.<\/p>\n
At 9:22 p.m., the prisoner was contacted again, and reportedly told the detention staff he was OK. At 3:08 a.m., the prisoner was found dead in his cell, according to the Facebook post.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe coroner responded and took custody of the body,\u201d Sheriff Spruell posted. \u201cThe coroner is requiring an autopsy be performed to determine cause of death.\u201d<\/p>\n
A public information officer with the Montezuma County Sheriff\u2019s Office declined to release any additional information, including the inmate\u2019s identity, citing the case had been turned over to state officials.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Colorado Bureau of Investigations is handling the case,\u201d said Montezuma County Lt. Det. Ted Meador.<\/p>\n
Sheriff Spruell routinely updates his Facebook page, and often states that those facing charges are \u201cleft in the care of the jail.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spruell posted the inmate was brought in by the Cortez Police Department on charges of trespassing. The city of Cortez spends an average of $135,000 annually to house inmates at the Montezuma County jail.<\/p>\n
The weekend death marks the second such incident at the Montezuma County jail this year. Edward Grant Lyen, 61, reportedly committed suicide while in custody at the jail on June 13.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Lyen) hung himself using a bed sheet in a holding cell,\u201d said Montezuma County coroner Charlie Rosenbaugh.<\/p>\n
The Montezuma County jail is a 104-bed facility operated under the direction of the sheriff\u2019s office. According to Spruell, the facility houses an average of 90 inmates per day.<\/p>\n