Another inmate hangs himself
A Washington County jail inmate was discovered hanging from a sheet in his cell Thursday.
Darius M. Rawls, 20, of 806 Crest Ave., Charleroi, was pronounced dead at 2:12 p.m. in the Washington Hospital emergency department.
According to a report from Washington County Coroner Tim Warco, the incident occurred between 12:10 p.m. and 1:17 p.m. Resuscitation efforts were initiated by jail staff before Rawls was transported to the hospital.
It is the third apparent suicide this year at the county jail.
On Feb. 2, Richard A. Kempf, 31, of Washington, was awaiting trial on burglary and related charges when was found hanging from a sheet in his cell. Kempf’s family filed a wrongful-death suit against the county in May.
On Sept. 26, Gregory Michaux, 38, of Clarksville, was awaiting trial on aggravated assault and other charges when was found hanging from a sheet in his cell. Michaux’s mother recently initiated an online fundraising effort for a private autopsy and to initiate a wrongful-death suit.
Michaux’s death is being investigated internally, by city police and by the Washington County coroner’s office, which is awaiting a toxicology report.
Rawls was arrested Tuesday on drug distribution charges as part of joint investigation among the Washington County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. attorney’s office. He was indicted in federal court for violating narcotics and gun laws.
Rawls’ arrest was a result of a bench warrant served in the Charleroi area. Detectives seized 898 stamp bags of heroin, a stolen gun and $2,352 from a car in which Rawls was a passenger Tuesday.
Rawls pleaded guilty in December 2013 and in February to possession with intent to deliver and was sentenced to 36 months in prison. He also was charged in June with receiving stolen property and possession of a small amount of marijuana. That case is pending.
Commission Chairman Larry Maggi, who also is chairman of the prison board, said Rawls was housed in general population and was not on suicide watch.
Maggi said he’s not sure what could be done to prevent further incidents.
“We are constantly reviewing protocols. I’ve learned that people make choices…that put them in jail,” Maggi said. “Once they make that choice, we attempt to do what we can to make them safe. I’m not sure how much more can be done.”
City police Chief Chris Luppino said the department is investigating, reviewing surveillance and obtaining any phone calls Rawls may have made from the jail.
“It’s still very early,” he said. “At this point in time, nothing is suspicious.”
Jail Warden John Temas did not return a call for comment.