RONAOKE COUNTY, Va. – The Western Virginia Regional Jail says one of its inmates died after collapsing in his cell Saturday evening.
Benjamin Lee Powers, 54, collapsed while interacting with correctional officers who were preparing him to be examined by medical staff, Deputy Superintendent David Cox said.
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When Powers collapsed, Cox said, he had a pulse and was breathing, but was unconscious. He then went into cardiac arrest and was administered CPR and a defibrillator was used
Powers was taken to Lewis Gale Medical Center in Salem and was pronounced deceased at 9:32 p.m., Cox said.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Roanoke performed an autopsy and rendered a preliminary finding that Powers died of natural causes and all indications show medical staff responded appropriately to his medical concerns prior to and during the emergency.
Powers was booked into jail July 6 and was held for Montgomery County on the pretrial charges of felony credit card theft and felony larceny, third or subsequent offense, all of which carried a $2,500 bail.
Upon commitment, Cox said, Powers did not report any physical health concerns, nor that he required any medical treatment.