According to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department, on Monday, Sept. 13 at 4:15 p.m., an inmate being held in the county’s High Point Detention Center died.
The department released word of the death on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 15.
The account from the Sheriff’s Department states that staff at the High Point jail found inmate Dakota Stevens “unresponsive but breathing inside a holding cell.”
Stevens, a 27-year-old white male, was being held on failure to appear for court charges.
Jail staff, including medical staff in the jail, “immediately” engaged in life-saving measures, but those attempts were unsuccessful. Emergency Medical Services was called and those responders arrived at the scene around 4:25 p.m. – about 10 minutes after Stevens was found unconscious.
The Emergency Medical Services team took Stevens to High Point Regional Hospital, and he was later transferred to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for additional treatment. Despite the attempts to save him, Stevens died at the medical center just after 4 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 14.
Stevens’ next of kin has been notified.
According to officials with the Sheriff’s Department, “At this time, no foul play is suspected, but the investigation into Mr. Stevens’ death is still ongoing.”
Stevens had been arrested by the High Point Police Department one week before his death and had been awaiting trial in the High Point jail.
He was being held on charges that included “Failure to Appear for Driving While License Revoked” and “Failure to Appear for Possession of Heroin and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.”
Stevens was being held on a $1,000 secured bond.
He had been in the custody of the High Point Detention Center from the time of his arrest just after 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 6.
The Guilford County jail system has had several inmate deaths in recent years including three suicides from 2019 to 2020.
Dont blame the jail. There are often sad consequences to substance abuse withdrawals. If that doesn’t get you, it may trigger an underlying issue that’s already waiting to take you down. These folks need our prayers, for many any action will come too late.
And don’t blame the Police. Marcus Smith is a perfect example of what happens with substance abuse. His family knew of his problems but now they want to lay the blame on someone else. So sad. Take responsibility for your own actions