Dateline: May 19, 2005

Inmate dies in jail

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Donley County Sheriff’s Office is awaiting the results of an autopsy on an inmate who died in its custody as the Enterprise goes to press this week.

Chief Deputy Randy Bond said Joseph Linden Williams was arrested Sunday night at Clarendon’s Best Western hotel after he hung blankets out the window and tore up the room he was staying in. The Denver, Colo., man was acting erratically before being charged with disorderly conduct and booked into the Donley County Jail.

Bond said Williams, age 43, remained hyperactive all night. At 8:45 Monday morning, staff noticed he was unresponsive and called for medical assistance. EMS personnel with the Associated Ambulance Authority responded but were unable to revive the inmate.

Justice of the Peace Jimmy Johnson pronounced Williams dead at 9:17 a.m. and ordered an autopsy to be conducted at the Texas Tech University Medical Center in Lubbock on Tuesday morning.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn was in Lubbock for the autopsy, but final results of that procedure won’t be known for four to six weeks.

Bond said a Texas Ranger had investigated Williams’ death Monday and found no signs of foul play. Pending the autopsy results, officials say Williams appears to have died by natural causes.