Weber County Jail reports “suspicious” death, investigation underway

WEBER, Utah — An investigation is underway after the Weber County Jail reported the death of an inmate Sunday, calling the situation “suspicious.” They did not immediately identify the man.  

The man’s cellmate called for deputies to respond to the cell because the man was vomiting. By the time officials got there, he was unconscious, according to a news release from the Weber County Sheriff’s Office. 

Upon approaching him, the responding deputies called both in-house medical responders and local EMS. While waiting for help, they began first aid, the release said. 

The emergency responders pronounced the inmate dead on the scene. 

Weber County Critical Incident Protocol will handle the investigation, before handing it off to the county attorney’s office for further review. However, officials say the death does not seem to be related to COVID-19. 

The inmate was not housed in isolation or in a quarantined section — rather, he was housed for the U.S. Marshals Service on contract, according to the news release. The Weber County Jail notified the Marshals Service of the death, which will notify the man’s family. 

“We would like to thank those deputies that responded as extra personnel to both assist with the incident as well as to ensure the continuation of services to the other individuals incarcerated in the Weber County Jail,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a release. “We offer our condolences to the family of the deceased. These incidents are difficult for all of those involved and we will be working to provide counseling services and resources for staff members and inmates involved in this incident.”

The Weber County Sheriff’s Office asks for patience as they investigate the cause of death.