Ephrata, WA – A 54-year-old man held in the Grant County Jail was found unresponsive early Monday morning, prompting an independent investigation into his death.
According to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, jail staff discovered the man around 7 a.m. inside a special holding cell for people in crisis. He was not breathing and had no pulse. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by jail staff, LifeLine Ambulance, and the Ephrata Fire Department, the man was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later.
The inmate, who had been the only person in the cell, was arrested Friday, October 31, by Moses Lake Police on suspicion of trafficking stolen property and theft. His body is now in the care of Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison, whose office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. Next of kin were notified Monday afternoon.
Because the incident occurred inside the jail, Sheriff Joe Kriete asked the Central Basin Investigative Team (CBIT) to lead the inquiry. The team—composed of detectives from Grant, Kittitas, and Adams counties, as well as Ellensburg Police, the Washington State Patrol, and Othello Police—will handle the case independently.
Sheriff Kriete emphasized transparency, saying his office “remains committed to ensuring a thorough, fair, and compassionate review.” CBIT spokesman Capt. Troy Froewiss of the Ephrata Police Department will release updates as the investigation continues.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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