WYANDOTTE COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating the death of a 50-year-old inmate who died Saturday while in law enforcement custody.
By statute, the KBI investigates all in-custody deaths which occur in Kansas jails and prisons unless the inmate who dies is being regularly attended by a physician, or the death is ruled natural by autopsy.
The Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office notified the KBI of the death on Saturday, July 5, at approximately 9:30 p.m. KBI agents responded to investigate.
At approximately 8:30 p.m., Charles L. Adair, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas, received medical care in the detention center’s infirmary for a pre-existing wound on his leg.
Preliminary information indicates that when personnel attempted to transfer him back to his cell, Adair caused a disturbance by yelling, refusing to listen to commands, and physically resisting. Multiple sheriff’s deputies responded and handcuffed Adair to gain compliance. They transported him to his cell, where several deputies placed him on the lower bunk. They began attempting to remove the handcuffs, while Adair continued to resist. They gained control, removed the cuffs, and left the cell.
Immediately after, at 8:37 p.m., medical staff were called to evaluate Adair who they found unresponsive. Life-saving measures were initiated. EMS responded to the facility and continued medical intervention. Despite efforts, Adair was pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m.
KBI agents did not observe any obvious signs of physical injury to Adair resulting from the incident. An autopsy will be conducted.
Adair had been in the facility since he was arrested July 4, on misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear on multiple traffic violations.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information will be released at this time.
