Cline was taken to a pre-arraignment area within the jail shortly after midnight and placed in an individual cell. But when deputies were conducting an inmate welfare check less than an hour later, they discovered Cline had hung himself.
Deputies attempted to use CPR as well as an Automated Electronic Defibulator, but he was declared deceased when Emergency Medical Services staff arrived a short time later.
Gene Kelly, Clark County sheriff, said his office is conducting an investigation into the incident, but it appears staff members followed the appropriate procedures in the case.
He said before inmates are ever placed in a cell, they are screened by jail staff members to determine whether there is any risk of suicide. So far this year, Kelly said 11 people have indicated they were having thoughts of suicide.
Those individuals are immediately put into a prevention system in which they are monitored continuously. But Cline showed no signs that he was considering suicide.
In 2009, Kelly said there were 19 individuals who had threatened to harm themselves and were placed in the prevention system.
Kelly said 2007 was the last time an inmate committed suicide while being held in the Clark County Jail. Before that, the last time a similar incident occurred was 1999.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.
About the Author