The Major Crime Task Force is investigating the death of a Barrington man who was found unresponsive in his cell at the Lake County Jail in Waukegan Friday evening.
A Lake County sheriff’s corrections officer was conducting rounds in Pod 1 East around 8:34 p.m. Friday.
He observed an inmate, a 51-year-old Barrington man, laying on his bed in what appeared to be an unresponsive state.
The corrections officer knocked on the door several times but the inmate did not respond, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
The corrections officer entered the inmate’s cell and attempted to wake him but the inmate remained unresponsive.
Covelli said the corrections officer radioed a medical emergency, summoning nursing staff and an ambulance.
The officer began first aid and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was used. Officers also performed CPR on the man.
Waukegan Fire Department paramedics arrived and took over care.
Paramedics attempted to revive the man for an extended period of time before pronouncing him deceased.
Covelli said the man had been brought to the jail just after midnight Friday.
He had been arrested on an outstanding warrant in unincorporated Barrington for violating an order of protection.
The man was assigned to a double inmate cell in Pod 1 East but he did not have a cellmate, Covelli said.
Pod 1 East was on lockdown at the time the man was found unresponsive.
Rounds were conducted at least 30 minutes prior to the incident and the inmate appeared “okay” at the time, Covelli said.
The inmate had numerous underlying health conditions.
The sheriff’s office said there did not appear to be any suspicious marks or injuries on the inmate’s body.
An autopsy will be conducted by the Lake County Coroner’s Office on Monday.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office requested the Lake County Major Crime Task Force conduct an independent investigation in accordance with protocol.