Tragedy struck early in the morning at the El Paso County Jail as Dequan Ward, a 37-year-old inmate, was discovered unresponsive. Details were sparse when the incident was first reported, but since then, more information has been made public. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office has confirmed Ward's identity following the unfortunate event on Friday and expressed their condolences to his bereaved family and friends.
According to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Ward was found at approximately 4:27 am, and despite the prompt response from both deputies and medical staff at the jail, life-saving efforts proved unsuccessful. Subsequently, at around 4:38 am, the Colorado Springs Fire Department and American Medical Response arrived to take over his care. Ward was pronounced dead shortly after, at 4:57 AM.
Sheriff Roybal has promised a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ward's death. While an initial investigation has revealed no obvious signs of assault, self-harm, or foul play, the sheriff's office has committed to uphold the same investigative standards for Ward as they would for any citizen of El Paso County.
An autopsy is expected to be undertaken by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office, a move that Sheriff Roybal has personally requested. The purpose of the autopsy is to provide clear answers on Ward's cause of death, bringing some measure of understanding to this distressing situation. In the meantime, the local community and Ward's acquaintances look for closure in this trying time.
