Inmate death at Grant County Jail under investigation

EPHRATA – An independent investigation is underway into the death of an inmate whose body was discovered around 7 a.m. today (Tuesday, Nov. 4) in a special holding cell at the Grant County Jail.

The 54-year-old man was not breathing and had no pulse when found by jail staff, according to an online press statement issued by the sheriff’s office. The man’s name was not immediately disclosed pending notification of his next-of-kin.

Jail staff attempted life-saving measures and personnel from Lifeline Ambulance and the Ephrata Fire Department also responded and continued those efforts, but the man was pronounced dead around 7:30 a.m. The Grant County Coroner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.

When found, the man was in a single-occupancy cell used for “people in crisis,” the statement said. He had been arrested by Moses Lake police Friday afternoon and booked into the jail on suspicion of third-degree theft, first-degree trafficking in stolen property, and three outstanding court warrants.

Grant County sheriff Joe Kriete has asked for the death to be investigated by the Central Basin Investigative Team, which includes detectives from Adams, Grant, and Kittitas county law enforcement agencies, including the Washington State Patrol and Ellensburg and Othello police departments.

Ephrata Police Department Capt. Troy Froewiss is the designated CBIT spokesman for this investigation. Froewiss was out of the office and not immediately available for comment later this afternoon.

“To ensure a fair, unbiased, and transparent investigation, no detectives from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office or Moses Lake Police Department are involved in the inquiry,” the statement said.

“We recognize that any death in custody can be distressing for family members, staff, and the community. Support services are available to employees,” Kriete said in the announcement. “The Grant County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to ensuring a thorough, fair, and compassionate review of this incident, and is cooperating with the investigation by the Central Basin Investigative Team.”