Police Investigate Inmate Death at Newtown Garner Correctional

NEWTOWN, CT — The Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Department of Correction’s Security Division are investigating the death of an inmate at the Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown. The inmate has been identified as 31-year-old Jallen Jones from Atlanta, Georgia. Officials are calling Jones' demise "untimely."

Health Services staff at Garner determined that Jones required treatment and extra supervision in the In-Patient Mental Health Unit (IPM). This unit is an infirmary staffed with mental health and medical providers and is intended to care for the most acute mental health and/or medical cases.

While Jones was being transported to IPM at approximately 11:05 am on Sunday, March 25, he became combative with the staff, and then non-responsive, according to a report from the Connecticut Department of Correction. After life-saving procedures were initiated, the inmate was transported via ambulance to a community hospital where he was pronounced dead at approximately 12:25 pm.

“The death of an individual under the care and custody of the Department of Correction is a very serious matter and we are fully committed to cooperating with external law enforcement," said Connecticut Department of Correction Commissioner Scott Semple in a statement. "There are no immediate indications suggesting that excessive force was utilized. However, we are in the infancy stage of an active investigation and will respond swiftly and accordingly to any determinations contrary to the initial findings presented."

Jones was serving a ten year sentence for Robbery 1st degree, and had been incarcerated since September 12, 2014.