Idaho State Journal
POCATELLO, Idaho — A 31-year-old Bannock County Jail inmate who hanged himself in the facility’s recreation yard Friday afternoon died Monday at Portneuf Medical Center from his injuries, police said.
Barton R. Galloway’s death is being investigated by detectives with Teton and Jefferson counties. He was being held on two counts of lewd conduct with a minor.
Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen said a deputy checked on Galloway at about 2 p.m. and found he was distressed, so he agreed to allow Galloway to use the recreation yard to work it off.
Nielsen said the deputy found Galloway attempting to hang himself , using a bed sheet, when he checked on him again and followed the proper procedures.
“Preliminary reports are officers did everything they could do both in monitoring and trying to recover him,” Nielsen said.
Nielsen said the length of time before Galloway’s hanging attempt was discovered is still under investigation.
“Obviously we’re very disappointed when anybody passes away, and it’s even more tragic when they feel that suicide is the answer ,” Nielsen said. “We do everything we can to prevent that but we can’t stop all of them.”
Nielsen said jail policy mandates cell checks at least twice per hour, and they’re staggered so inmates don’t know when to expect them.
Funeral arrangements are pending under the care of Colonial Funeral Home.
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Copyright 2011 Idaho State Journal