A 59-year-old man being held at Mecklenburg County Detention Center-Central died yesterday after he was found unresponsive in his housing unit, putting a fresh in-custody death under investigation in Charlotte. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are examining what happened, and officials have not released a cause of death.
Todd Williams was pronounced dead shortly after 3:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, after being transported to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, according to The Charlotte Observer. He had been taken into custody on July 27 and was facing a charge of trafficking in methamphetamine.
The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office said Williams was discovered unresponsive and that the SBI is investigating the death. Sheriff Garry McFadden extended condolences to Williams’ family and loved ones, adding that “any death in our custody is taken with the utmost seriousness,” according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.
Charlotte Jail Has Seen Other Recent Deaths
The investigation follows the June death of 21-year-old Ja’Lan Riddick, who was found unresponsive after a medical emergency at the same detention center. WSOC-TV reported that Riddick had been awaiting trial, and that both the sheriff’s office and SBI were investigating while his cause of death remained undisclosed.
Jail Oversight Is Already Under A Microscope
At a Feb. 9 hearing before the North Carolina House Select Committee on Oversight and Reform, McFadden said people who die at the detention center are sent to the medical examiner and that records include the cause, manner and contributing factors. During the exchange, a lawmaker referenced 28 deaths in custody and questioned how the underlying causes were tracked and communicated, according to the North Carolina General Assembly hearing transcript.
Cause Of Death Has Not Been Released
For now, no cause or manner of death has been announced, and officials have not said whether anyone will face charges related to Williams’ death. The methamphetamine-trafficking case was a pending allegation at the time of his death, not a conviction, while the SBI investigation and medical examiner’s findings are expected to clarify what happened.
