Female Inmate Dies In Jefferson County Jail

GOLDEN, CO – A female inmate died in custody at the Jefferson County Detention Facility early Thursday, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office reported.

Jennifer Brooks, 46, was found non-responsive with a trash bag over her head in her cell around 3:48 a.m., the sheriff's office said in a statement. Deputies and jail medical employees tried to resuscitate Brooks, as did ambulance personnel, but she was pronounced dead at St. Anthony Hospital.

The Jefferson County Coroner will rule later on a cause of death, the sheriff's office said.

Brooks was arrested on July 11, 2017 for assault, vehicular eluding, felony menacing and reckless endangerment, according to the sheriff's office. She was held on $100,000 bail.

Brooks was arrested after erratically driving her Jeep Cherokee on U.S. 285, weaving in and out of traffic and allegedly trying to hit other cars with her vehicle around midday, according to news reports. At one point, her car was observed driving the wrong way on a busy highway, reports said.

According to the sheriff's office, Brooks's death is currently under investigation. Findings will be given to the District Attorney's office for review.

In August, 2017, another inmate died in custody at the Jefferson County Jail. Six months later, the Jefferson County District Attorney still has not issued a statement on the sheriff's investigation of the death of Suzanne Burgaz, 55. Burgaz was found unresponsive Aug. 31 in the inmate day room with a television electrical cord around her neck.

Related: Colorado Jail TV Room Death: Guards ‘Not Criminally Negligent’ - Alcoholism, addiction drove Susanne Burgaz, 55, into criminal justice system. Suicide by a TV cord in the JeffCo jail ended her life.

Image via Jefferson County Sheriff's Office