On September 13, 2022, The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Detention Deputies responded to a medical emergency within the jail.
Inmate Joseph Abruzzi, 60, had been housed alone since he arrived at the Okeechobee County jail on September 9, 2022. While jail staff performed their 30-minute observation checks in the morning, Abruzzi complained of shortness of breath.
Jail nursing staff evaluated Abruzzi's condition and immediately called for Okeechobee Fire Rescue to respond to have Abruzzi transported for treatment to Raulerson Hospital.
The ambulance was still in the sallyport portion of the Detention Facility when Abruzzi's vitals diminished drastically.
Okeechobee County Rescue started life-saving procedures and continued them throughout the short trip to the emergency room at Raulerson Hospital. Unfortunately, Abruzzi was declared deceased shortly after arriving at Raulerson Hospital.
On November 16, 2022, case agent Detective Satallante received the Cause of Death report from The Medical Examiner Department - District 19.
The Medical Examiner Department - District 19 report reads as follows:
CAUSE OF DEATH: Complications of Diabetes Mellitus
CONTRIBUTING CAUSE OF DEATH: Hypertensive Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
MANNER OF DEATH: Natural
The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office strives to remain transparent during active investigations, and we thank the public for your patience, cooperation, and understanding.
We take the care and custody of those inmates seriously, and we send our condolences again to his family and friends.
This death investigation is now closed.
#sheriffstephen #sheriffnoel #chobee #okeechobee #okeestrong #fsa #Deputy #deputysheriff#sheriff #chobeestrong
Original source can be found here.
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