Sheriff’s Office investigating an apparent suicide at the jail

Press release from Alachua County Sheriff’s Office

This morning at approximately 12:52 a.m., Detention Officers were making rounds/inmate counts when they observed an inmate with a sheet around his neck, tied off to his bunk. The inmate was confined in a general population cell, was housed alone, and had not previously indicated any suicidal intentions.

Detention Officers immediately entered the cell and began resuscitative measures, while medical staff and an ambulance were summoned for advanced treatment. The inmate, identified as Dewitt Lee Dailey Jr., 43, was then transported to a local hospital.

Mr. Dailey Jr. was pronounced deceased by hospital personnel at approximately 8:48 a.m. this morning.

Detectives are evaluating evidence and investigating the circumstances leading to the death. The Office of Professional Standards will conduct a parallel investigation into the incident to make sure all policies and procedures were followed.

Mr. Dailey had been in jail since January 23, following an arrest for multiple drug charges by the Gainesville Police Department. Next of kin notification has been made to the family of Mr. Dailey.