ST. HELENS, Ore. — Authorities say a Columbia County jail inmate has died from suicide and second inmate survived an attempt.
The sheriff’s office says 44-year-old Jason Shaw was found hanging Sunday. He was taken to a Portland hospital, where he died Monday with relatives present.
Also Sunday, an inmate in his 40s used a blade from a razor to cut his throat. He was taken to a Portland hospital and has since been released back into jail custody.
The investigation into Shaw’s death remains active. In a statement, the sheriff’s office said he was booked into jail Friday on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in Rainier Municipal Court.
The sheriff’s office says Shaw told a booking deputy and medical screener at the St. Helens jail that he had no plans to harm himself. He was treated for drug withdrawal symptoms on Saturday and again said he wasn’t suicidal.
