On Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at approximately 9:36 p.m., a 51-year-old man died in custody at the Washington County Jail. The man arrived at the Jail shortly after 7 a.m. on June 1. While waiting to complete the booking process, deputies noticed the man was not breathing while seated in the holding area.
Deputies immediately attempted life-saving efforts, assisted by paramedics who arrived a short time later, but those efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. Deputies are still trying to contact the man’s next of kin to notify them of his death.
The Washington County Major Crimes Team (MCT) is investigating this death. The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy earlier today and will issue a cause of death. The investigation is ongoing, and no other information is currently available.
This is the third in-custody death at the Washington County Jail in the last two months. The two preceding deaths were Mr. Bryce Bybee on April 17 and Ms. Crystal Leuenberger on May 24. Sheriff Garrett said, “This is unprecedented for our Jail. As I continue my commitment to transparency and improvement, I will arrange an outside entity to conduct an additional review separate from the MCT investigation.”
As of June 1, NaphCare became the jail health care provider at the Washington County Jail after earning the contract earlier this year. Before NaphCare, Correction Health Partners (CHP) provided the Washington County Jail medical care for two years.
The Washington County Major Crimes Team is comprised of detectives from law enforcement agencies throughout the county and is coordinated by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office. The team responds to major crimes that occur in Washington County.