A 39-year-old woman identified as Kristen Williams died Wednesday after suffering a medical emergency while in the custody of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, following a traffic stop in a St. Augustine neighborhood.
Deputies pulled Williams over near the intersection of West 3rd Street and Duval Street, according to the sheriff’s office. During the stop, she was arrested and placed in the back of a patrol car. While in custody, officials say she began showing signs consistent with an overdose and was taken to a hospital, where she later died.
The sheriff’s office told local media that the traffic stop happened at about 2:30 p.m. Deputies searched Williams’ vehicle and reported finding suspected narcotics. As her condition worsened, deputies and St. Johns County Fire Rescue started life-saving measures on scene before she was transported to a hospital. The agency has opened an internal investigation into the incident, according to News4JAX.
Detention health questions
In-custody deaths and the quality of medical care behind bars were already under the microscope in St. Johns County before Williams’ death. A detailed April investigation by The Florida Trib and ProPublica raised concerns about the county’s detention medical provider after a previous inmate death, adding fuel to local advocates’ calls for transparency whenever someone dies in custody.
What officials say and what comes next
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that an investigation is underway and said the Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death, according to News4JAX. Officials have not yet released the name of the hospital where Williams was treated or the complete list of charges tied to her arrest.
Public records, medical findings and any future statements from the sheriff’s office are likely to shape how this case fits into the broader conversation about what happens to people once they are in patrol or jail custody in St. Johns County. We will continue to track official releases and records as the county’s investigation moves forward.
