Inmate Dies In Jefferson County Jail

BIRMINGHAM, AL - An inmate in the Jefferson County jail has died after suffering a medical incident while in a cell block. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the man as Earnest True Smith, 36, of Birmingham.

A Jefferson County Sheriff's Office report said Friday at approximately 8:10 p.m., Smith appeared to have suffered a seizure while he was in the cell block day space. Smith was attended to by the medical staff and transported to the hospital for treatment.

Medical efforts to revive him were not successful. An autopsy showed that Smith had swallowed a bag of illegal drugs and the bag had apparently leaked into his stomach.