Only eight days into the New Year, an inmate at the Pinellas County Jail has died and once again, the medical care at the correctional facility where nurse Michael Schiavo is employed is an issue.
Pinellas County Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death of a Pinellas County Jail inmate, Donald H. Philpott, 51, of Largo, who died Monday at 2:04 a.m. The inmate was suffering from a pre-existing illness and was transported by ambulance to St. Petersburg General Hospital where he later died.
At 6:53 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19, Philpott was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on two counts of scheming to defraud. On Saturday, Dec. 23, he complained of discomfort related to a preexisting medical condition and was transported to St. Petersburg General Hospital where he was admitted and later released on his own recognizance while still a patient at the hospital.
Detectives say the inmate’s death does not appear suspicious; however an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death. Per policy, detectives assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit and Administrative Investigation Division will investigate the death.
The death toll at the jail last year was eight.
1-09-07
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© 2007 North Country Gazette
