The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office told The Chronicle Thursday that no foul play is suspected in the death of a Lewis County Jail inmate found unresponsive in his cell Sept. 2.
The Olympian first reported on the death, identifying the man as Matthew Potter, 47.
Corrections deputies found Potter, a Pe Ell man, at about 11:11 p.m. while conducting hourly checks of the housing units. Potter was unconscious on a toilet, according to the sheriff’s office.
“The inmate was housed in a single inmate cell,” the sheriff’s office told The Chronicle. “Corrections personnel and jail medical began to perform life-saving efforts, and the inmate was transported to Centralia Providence Hospital where he was pronounced deceased a few hours later.”
The sheriff’s office is conducting an investigation into the death, but there is currently no suspicion of foul play, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Once cause and manner of death, as well as toxicology, is obtained the investigation will be completed,” the sheriff’s office stated. “The sheriff’s office will then conduct an Unexpected Fatality Review as outlined in RCW 70.48.510."
