A 68-year-old woman died late May 10 after being found unresponsive in the infirmary at the Alachua County Jail, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
At about 11:15 p.m., jail staff contacted the Combined Communications Center to request emergency medical services after the woman was discovered unresponsive in her bed. Medical personnel were already providing care as detention staff requested additional assistance.
Gainesville Fire Rescue arrived at the jail infirmary at 11:22 p.m. and continued life-saving efforts. Paramedics pronounced the woman dead at 11:50 p.m.
Authorities identified the woman as Shirley Williams, 68, who was housed in the infirmary and under close medical supervision. Medical staff were on site, and detention officers conducted welfare checks every 15 minutes, consistent with agency policy and confirmed by facility surveillance footage, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division responded to investigate the death, which is standard protocol for any death occurring inside the jail. The investigation will run alongside an internal review by the Office of Professional Standards.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Authorities investigating inmate death at Alachua County Jail
Reporting by Staff report, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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