Hypertension to Blame in Sarasota Prisoner's Death, Medical Examiner Says

A 52-year-old man who was being held in the Sarasota County Jail died Saturday due to hypertension.

That’s according to the preliminary findings of the Sarasota County Medical Examiner’s Office. The sheriff’s office released those findings Monday following the early morning Saturday death of David Washer.

Washer, the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media, collapsed while preparing to eat breakfast in his cell around 6:11 a.m. Saturday.

“Deputies were in the immediate area serving meals in an adjacent cell block and responded to the distress call,” the email said. “Washer appeared to be having a seizure.”

Nursing staff members were called in and initiated CPR and other lifesaving techniques. Washer was ultimately pronounced dead at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

While foul play was not suspected in the case, a full investigation was kicked off.

The medical examiner’s office says Washer’s heart swelled due to hypertension.

“There were no signs of any trauma to his body,” the sheriff’s office noted.

Washer was booked May 20 on a domestic battery charge and was also being held for extradition to Manatee County.

Meanwhile, the man who fell ill following an arrest by the Sarasota Police Department was pronounced dead on Friday. An investigation into that case is ongoing.

Booking photo courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office

See Also:

• Sarasota Prisoner Dies Following Arrest
• Hunt Continues for Man Accused of Killing His Father

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