28-year-old Nisqually jail inmate found unconscious died in Olympia hospital Sunday
A 28-year-old man who was in custody at the Nisqually Jail died over the weekend after being transported to an Olympia hospital, the Thurston County Coroner’s Office confirmed.
The inmate was identified as Joseph Cagey, according to Coroner Gary Warnock. The coroner said the man was from Bellingham and that Cagey’s family has been notified.
“This is an unexpected and unexplained death,” Coroner Warnock said.
According to an online inmate roster, Cagey was arrested by Lummi Tribal Police on Dec. 18 and booked into the jail on a suspected drug paraphernalia possession violation.
Lacey Fire District 3 was among the agencies that responded to a call about an unconscious male inmate at the jail Saturday morning. Staff at the jail were performing CPR when crews arrived, Battalion Chief Steve Crimmins told The Olympian.
“We were able to get a heart rate,” Crimmins said, and the man was intubated before he was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia.
Coroner Warnock said the inmate died at St. Peter on Sunday. His office is investigating the cause and manner of death and plans to perform an autopsy Tuesday.
The Olympian reached out to Nisqually Corrections four times Monday to ask about the incident that spurred the initial call and any active investigation at the jail. There was no representative available at the time to comment, staff said, because of the upcoming holiday.
When The Olympian inquired, a spokesperson said the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office was not aware of the death and is not investigating.
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