July 16, 2020 – West Bend, WI – Correctional officers conducting a routine cell check this afternoon discovered a 30-year-old male inmate non-responsive. He was located with a bed sheet tied around his neck. Correctional officers immediately began life-saving efforts on the individual and summoned help from on-site jail medical personnel as well as paramedics from the West Bend Fire Department.
Unfortunately, the advanced lifesaving efforts were not successful and the 30-year-old man was pronounced dead at the jail. The inmate had spoken with a correctional officer less than 30 minutes before the discovery during another routine contact and appeared to be fine.
The deceased had been brought to the Washington County Jail the previous day after he was charged in a domestic abuse incident that occurred at his residence in the Town of Polk. He also had an outstanding arrest warrant from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for a probation violation. He was scheduled to appear in Washington County Circuit Court later in the day to face additional drug-related charges.
Per policy, all new inmates are being held in a quarantine area where they are in individual cells and have no contact with other inmates.
Wisconsin State Statute 175.47 requires an outside agency to lead all investigations with officer-involved deaths. This particular death investigation does not fall within that statute; however, in the interest of transparency, trust, and thoroughness, Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis is having the City of West Bend Police Department conduct the full investigation into this death.
Sheriff Schulteis extends his deepest sympathies on behalf of the entire Washington County Sheriff’s Office to the family and friends of the deceased.
Sheriff Schulteis said, “This is a tragic day for the family and friends of this young man. I appreciate my staff who work tirelessly every day to maintain the safest possible environment within our facility and when these tragic incidents occur, it affects them deeply. On behalf of all my agency, I would like to extend our sympathies to the family and assure the community that a comprehensive and thorough independent investigation is being conducted.”
The name is being withheld pending family notification. Any further inquiries should be directed to the West Bend Police Department.
How can we find out the name of the person who died in the Washington County Jail? There has been more than enough time to notify the family. Is the name not released?
Per Sheriff Martin Schulteis: David Christian Cooper – 30 years of age from Town of Polk