By Betty Adams
Portland Press Herald
WISCASSET, Maine — A Brunswick man who was being held in the Two Bridges Regional Jail on arson and other charges apparently committed suicide early Monday.
Robi K. Saputra, 21, was found hanging from a bed sheet in his cell at 2:18 a.m., said Maine State Police spokesman Steve McCausland.
He said state police are investigating Saputra’s death, as they do with all inmate deaths in the state correctional system. Saputra’s body will be taken to the state Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta for autopsy, McCausland said.
Saputra was arrested in August in connection with a fire Aug. 17 in an abandoned four-unit apartment building at the Brunswick Naval Air Station Annex in Topsham.
Correctional Administrator Maj. Mark Westrum said Saputra was freed on bail on the arson charge, but was arrested Feb. 21 by Wiscasset police on a charge of violating bail conditions.
He was being held on the bail violation at the time of his death, and on new charges from Kennebec County involving drugs and underage drinkers.
Saputra was being checked every half hour, as are most inmates at the jail, Westrum said.
''It’s sad. In a lot of these cases, there are mental health or drug issues,’' Westrum said. ''He didn’t show any indicators. This came as a surprise.’'
Saputra was alone in his cell, and a note was found there, McCausland said.
Saputra was indicted Feb. 11 by a Kennebec County grand jury on charges of aggravated furnishing of scheduled drugs, unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs and furnishing liquor to a minor, all on Aug. 7 in Waterville.
''He is alleged to have furnished marijuana and alcohol to minors, and at least one of the minors was under the age of 18,’' said District Attorney Evert Fowle.
Saputra was arrested on the indictment, but he had yet to be brought before a judge, Fowle said.
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