SBI investigating death of Lowndes County inmate
Published 4:26 pm Wednesday, July 22, 2015
The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death and of an inmate that died in custody at the Lowndes County Jail Tuesday.
Sgt. Steve Jarrett, public information officer for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, identified the inmate as 60-year-old James David Scarbrough.
Jarrett said no other details would be released until the investigation is completed.
“SBI will report their findings to the D.A.,” Jarrett said in an email to the Times-Journal. ”Since the investigation is ongoing nothing further will be released at this time.”
Lowndes County Sheriff John Williams confirmed Wednesday afternoon that state law enforcement was handling the investigation, but he would not release any details on Scarbrough’s death.
According to Cpl. Jess Thornton with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, it is protocol for departments to request the SBI take over an investigation into inmate deaths and incidents that involve officers.
“It doesn’t mean anything was done wrong. It is pretty typical,” Thornton said. “The reason being is it is just like an officer involved shooting. Agencies want to say a non-biased agency investigated it.”
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