Inmate Dies After Being Found Unresponsive At Saint Louis County Jail
BY MN CRIME STAFF
An inmate died days after being found unresponsive inside a cell at the Saint Louis County Jail, officials say.
An outside investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
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The incident was reported early Jan. 27 when a correctional officer conducting wellness checks located 35-year-old Darrin Tiessen unresponsive in a single-occupant cell around 1:05 a.m.
Jail staff immediately began life-saving measures including CPR and use of an automated external defibrillator. Authorities say they were able to restore a heartbeat before Tiessen was transported by ambulance to Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth for further treatment.
Despite all medical intervention, Tiessen did not regain consciousness and was pronounced dead at the hospital on Jan. 30.
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Tiessen had been arrested and booked into the jail two days earlier on a warrant for failing to appear at a recent court hearing. Court records show Tiessen most recently faced charges in Carlton County for malicious punishment of a child and domestic assault.
The Saint Louis County Sheriff’s Office requested the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigate the death to avoid any potential conflict of interest. Officials have not released additional details about the cause or manner of the man’s death and investigation remains ongoing.
