Davis County officials report second inmate death this year

By Tim Vandenack - | Jun 5, 2023

BEN DORGER, Standard-Examiner file photo

A look inside Davis County Jail on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019.

FARMINGTON — Davis County officials say a jail inmate has died, the second reported death at the facility this year.

“No foul play is suspected,” the Davis County jail said in a statement. The 38-year-old man, who hasn’t been publicly named, was found unresponsive in his cell during a morning headcount last Friday, alone, and was subsequently pronounced dead.

It’s the second reported death at the Farmington facility so far this year and though officials aren’t reporting a cause, they emphasized the availability of mental health counseling for inmates and corrections staffers. Jail officials reported that a Davis County inmate hanged himself and died last April. A Weber County jail inmate died in late April at the Ogden facility and suicide was suspected.

Davis County Chief Deputy Arnold Butcher called last Friday’s death a “difficult loss” for staff.

“Our team of corrections and medical personnel do all they can to ensure those in our care are looked after like one of their own. Our peer support team has been activated and our in-house mental health provider has been notified,” Butcher said. “We ask all employees, whether they are new to our office or veteran staff, to seek these resources or any other resource they find comfort in.”

Davis Behavioral Health, a mental health service provider, provides support for inmates, the statement said.

The cause of last week’s death is under investigation, both internally and externally, and an autopsy is pending. “Our Life Safety Committee, an advisory board composed of staff and citizens, will also review the incident to see if any additional steps could be taken in the future,” said a jail statement.

Only one inmate died in the Weber County jail in 2022 and suicide was the apparent cause, according to officials.