GRANT COUNTY, Wash. – A 54-year-old man was found dead Tuesday morning in a special holding cell at the Grant County Jail, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO).
The man was discovered around 7 a.m. in a cell designated for people in crisis. GCSO officials reported that he was not breathing and was unresponsive upon discovery.
Despite life-saving efforts by jail staff, LifeLine Ambulance crews and the Ephrata Fire Department, he was pronounced dead around 7:30 a.m.
Sheriff Joe Kriete has called for the Central Basin Investigative Team to look into the death, ensuring that no detectives from the GCSO or Moses Lake Police Department are involved, for the sake of a fair and unbiased investigation.
“We recognize that any death in custody can be distressing for family members, staff, and the community. Support services are available to employees,” Sheriff Kriete stated. “The Grant County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to ensuring a thorough, fair, and compassionate review of this incident, and is cooperating with the investigation by the Central Basin Investigative Team.”
The man was arrested on October 31 by Moses Lake police for trafficking stolen property and theft. His body has been transferred to Coroner Craig Morrison for an autopsy.
