October 22, 2024

Pima County Jail Inmate dies during surgery

No suspicious circumstances have been reported so far.

360 pima county jail A Pima County correctional officer glances inside a cell at the county jail.
AZPM Staff

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department announced 59-year old James Waddell suffered complications during surgery and died at a local hospital on Saturday.

Waddell had been incarcerated at the Pima County Adult Detention Center since June 4th, and entered the hospital at the beginning of this month.

The Department’s Homicide Unit is investigating Waddell’s death and noted no suspicious circumstances so far, though the investigation is still ongoing.

Officials with the Sheriff’s Department did not release information on what type of medical care he was receiving

This is the first in-custody death at the jail this year. The unusually high number of jail deaths in the last three years has received significant backlash from the community and Pima County officials.

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