Flagstaff – An unidentified Coconino County Jail inmate has died from unknown causes after he refused medical assistance from Sheriff’s personnel.
According to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, on July 29, 2020 during the booking process into the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Temporary Holding Facility in Page, the inmate refused to answer any medical related questions asked by detention officers. Officers had noticed a laceration on the inmate’s finger that appeared red, swollen, and hot to the touch. Officers contacted the Detention medical staff in Flagstaff about his condition and the inmate was refused acceptance.
The inmate was transported to the Page Emergency Department, but refused all medical treatment while at the hospital. Ultimately the inmate was transported back to the holding facility. Again, the inmate refused to answer all medical questions and refused to allow vitals to be checked by officers.
Detention staff contacted the Detention Medical staff in Flagstaff, explained the inmate’s refusal for treatment at the hospital and the refusal to answer medical questions and vitals to be checked. Medical staff then told the officers to accept the inmate. The inmate was processed and booked into the Page holding facility.
On Friday morning, July 31, 2020, the inmate was being transported from Page to be housed in the Flagstaff Facility. During the trip, the inmate began to have a medical related emergency. Our Detention Officers pulled over, contacted dispatch, requested emergency services and began life savings measures. Emergency Medical Services responded, took over life saving measures and transported the inmate to the Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC). The inmate was taken into emergency surgery and passed away.
The cause of death is currently under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and pending autopsy and review by the Coconino County Medical Examiner.