VANCOUVER, Wash. — A Clark County sheriff’s officer says a county jail inmate found hanging by his bedsheets in his cell has died.
The Clark County medical examiner’s office says William L. Ward died of asphyxia. He died three days after he was found unconscious and rushed to Southwest Washington Medical Center.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Scott Schanaker says Ward was awaiting a Nov. 18 sentencing for third-degree rape. The sergeant says Ward was also serving time for driving under the influence and domestic violence fourth-degree assault convictions. Ward died last week.
Schanaker tells The Columbian that Ward had made earlier threats to commit suicide, but was not on suicide watch at the jail.
The officer says Ward was given anti-anxiety and depression medications but had started not swallowing the pills.
Information from: The Columbian, www.columbian.com
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