Sheriff Identifies Inmate Who Died In Washington County Jail

The Washington County Sheriff's Office says Joseph McDonald, 55, died in the county jail Wednesday morning.  

According to Sheriff Rick Silver, jail staffers found McDonald unresponsive in a holding cell during an hourly check at about 2 a.m.

Deputies say McDonald did not have a pulse and wasn't breathing.

Silver said deputies immediately began CPR and when emergency medical personnel arrived, McDonald was pronounced dead.

He says McDonald may have suffered some sort of medical distress leading to his death.

Silver says the state medical examiner's office has been requested to assist in the investigation.

Court records show McDonald was charged with one count of domestic abuse-assault and battery.