Kansas Bureau of Investigation Probes Inmate Death At Wyandotte County Jail

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is looking into the in-custody death of 50-year-old Charles L. Adair, who died Saturday night at the Wyandotte County Detention Center. Adair had been booked into the jail just two days earlier, on July 4, after being arrested on misdemeanor failure-to-appear warrants related to traffic violations.

According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, Adair was treated in the jail’s infirmary around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday for a pre-existing leg wound. After receiving care, deputies attempted to escort him back to his cell. Officials said that during this process, “Adair caused a disturbance and resisted deputies,” which led to him being handcuffed. Once he was returned to his cell, deputies placed him on the lower bunk and removed the restraints.

Shortly after, Adair became unresponsive. “Jail staff called medical personnel moments later,” the statement noted. Emergency Medical Services arrived quickly and began administering lifesaving measures. Despite their efforts, Adair was pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m.

The KBI reported that there were “no obvious signs of injury caused by the incident,” but added that a full autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. The agency is currently leading the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adair’s death.

As of now, no further details have been released regarding the nature of the disturbance or whether video footage is available. The incident adds to growing national concern over deaths in detention centers, particularly among individuals held on low-level or non-violent offenses.

Link: KTVZ

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