STARKE, Fla. — Inmate Johnathan Altman, 38, was pronounced dead while in confined custody at the Bradford County Jail, where he had been incarcerated since June.
Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith posted on his Facebook page Thursday that Altman had been in custody since June 27 for violating his controlled release, felony battery, escape, felony criminal mischief, and resisting arrest.
While incarcerated he has had 32 documented disciplinary incidents. During a latest incident overnight Wednesday, he was transported to the emergency room in Starke due to low oxygen levels, Smith said.
The levels were discovered as he was being evaluated by county medical personnel, the post said. After an emergency room evaluation, he was released to return to the jail where he was confined to single person room with constant visual observation and periodic physical contact from correctional deputies, the sheriff also said.
Smith said while delivering his breakfast at around 7:40 am, deputies discovered Altman was unresponsive and called for medical personnel as they were administering CPR.
“All efforts to revive Altman were unsuccessful and Bradford County Fire Rescue personnel, who arrived within minutes of being called, declared him deceased,” the post on Smith’s Facebook page said.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has responded to investigate this case and it is was at the jail Thursday with its crime scene unit, Smith said.
Bradford County detectives are assisting and have initiated an internal review of the case, said Smith, who said Altman’s next of kin has been notified.
His remains will be recovered by the medical examiner for an autopsy, the post said.
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