Inmate Dies At Alexander County Detention Center

The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office has released information concerning the death of an inmate at the Alexander County Detention Center in Taylorsville.

According to Sheriff Chris Bowman, 30 year old Tony Wayne Smith of Hickory was found unresponsive, in his cell around 4pm, on Sunday, October 28th. A detention officer had communicated with Smith around 15 minutes earlier. Smith was found hanging by the neck with a bed sheet tied to an upper bunk. Smith was alone in the cell.

Officers administered CPR as did Alexander EMS according to Bowman, Smith could not be revived. Smith had been arrested on October 22nd and charged with  9 counts of statutory sex offense with a child, 8 counts of indecent liberties with a child, and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.  He was being held under a $1 million secured bond since his arrest.

Bowman said it is policy for officers to visibly inspect each cell at least once per half-hour. An autopsy is being performed to confirm the cause of death.

Related Story: https://860wacb.com/man-charges-with-multiple-sex-offenses-with-a-child-in-alex-county/