COLUMBIA, S.C. — An inmate has died after having a medical emergency and falling ill while being detained at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. Now, the sheriff's office is reporting that this is another opioid-related death.
According to a statement from a Richland County government spokesperson, a 71-year-old detainee, now identified as Roderick Samuels of Columbia, was booked into the jail for possession with intent to distribute on July 22. He was then taken to a Prisma Health hospital for treatment following a medical emergency on Thursday. By Saturday, the hospital informed jail staff that the inmate was "acutely ill" and had gone into cardiac arrest.
County officials said Samuels died early Sunday morning. The county offered condolences to the detainee's family, adding that the coroner has been notified. This is the third jail death at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center this week. The Richland County Coroner's Office confirmed that 25-year-old Marty Brown of Columbia died on Monday, and 54-year-old Lamont Powell died on Tuesday. Sheriff Leon Lott said both men died as a result of drugs.
Another inmate, 56-year-old Robert L. Moore of Columbia, was also found unresponsive in his cell on July 9.
Authorities have not released the name of the latest inmate who died, but Sheriff Lott said the death also appears to be tied to drugs, and his deputies are investigating.
“This is another unfortunate incident that involves opioids that we were made aware after the inmate had died," Lott said.
A department spokesperson said the coroner notified them of the situation.