PASCO, Wash. — A deputy has been fired after an inmate was found dead in a Washington jail holding cell.
According to The Associated Press, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office fired a probationary corrections deputy after someone in custody was found unresponsive in a jail observation holding cell.
Faviola Valenzula was arrested by Pasco police on March 12. She was allegedly arrested for destruction or removal of property and was not cooperative when she was getting booked, KEPR said.
While trying to secure Valenzuela in a holding cell, KEPR said that deputies were required to physically move her but she resisted and stayed in the observation cell until she died.
The Franklin County Coroner’s Office found that Valenzuela died from a lethal methamphetamine intoxication, according to the AP.
During the start of the investigation, FCSO said according to the AP that the deputy was not following protocol at the time of the incident and was fired the next day.
FCSO is conducting a formal internal investigation to see if any other employees had violated policies in place or established protocol, according to the AP.
The name of the deputy has not been released.
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