File Photo – Lake County Jail | Photo: Google Street View

The coroner has released the identity of a Zion man who was found dead after staff discovered him unresponsive in his cell at the Lake County Jail in Waukegan Tuesday evening.

An autopsy was performed Thursday on Arthur Bankston II, 53, of Zion, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said Bankston was found unresponsive in his jail cell around 9:35 p.m. Tuesday.

Bankston was remanded to the Lake County Jail on Monday for a drug-related charge.

Covelli said the man had a number of health-related issues and was assigned to be monitored in the “1 East” cellblock of the jail.

Bankston was assigned a double-inmate cell but he did not have a cellmate.

The man was alert when he was seen by the jail’s medical care provider nurse for a prescription drug pass at 8:31 p.m.

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A prescription drug pass is when inmates are provided with their prescribed medications by medical professionals.

Covelli said that following the prescription drug pass, corrections officer rounds were conducted at least every 30 minutes.

A corrections officer saw Bankston unresponsive in his cell at 9:34 p.m.

The corrections officer called a medical emergency on his portable radio and medical staff responded to attempt lifesaving efforts, Covelli said.

The Waukegan Fire Department was also called to the scene. A lengthy attempt to save the man’s life ensued.

Paramedics contacted the hospital and a doctor pronounced Bankston dead.

The inmate previously reported he had terminal underlying health conditions, Covelli said.

Covelli said there did not appear to be any suspicious marks or injuries on the inmate’s body.

Banek said Thursday that preliminary autopsy results are pending further testing, including toxicology.

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“Mr. Bankston had underlying medical conditions, and there was no evidence [of] suspicious marks or any injuries noted at autopsy,” Banek said.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force to conduct an independent investigation in accordance with protocol.

Banek said the incident will be scheduled for a coroner’s inquest upon the completion of the investigation.