An inmate in Catawba County passed away earlier this week. Tuesday (February 8) at approximately 7:30 p.m. officers with the Catawba County Detention Facility noticed an inmate assigned to the facilities medical unit was suffering respiratory distress. Officers began assisting this inmate as they called for the facilities medical staff to respond. Catawba County EMS also responded.
This inmate, identified as 65-year-old William Gene Anderson of Hickory, became unresponsive and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. Anderson was incarcerated on charges of probation violation and failure to appear on a charge of driving while impaired. Anderson’s family has been notified.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is conducting an investigation into this matter as is common in cases where an inmate dies while in custody. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will release the cause and manner of Anderson’s death once autopsy results become available.
Sheriff Brown and the staff of the Catawba County Detention Facility extended their condolences to the family of William Gene Anderson.
Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY