UPDATE: Sioux County Inmate Death Ruled A Suicide

Orange City, Iowa — Authorities have now released the identity of the Sioux County Jail inmate who was found unresponsive in his cell on January 28th.

Sioux County authorities have identified the victim as 29-year old Dustin Lee Herbst of Sioux City.

On Sunday, January 28th, authorities say they investigated a report of an unresponsive inmate at the Sioux County Jail. Detention Officers located Herbst in a cell and rendered emergency aid. Authorities say the rescue efforts were unsuccessful, and Herbst was pronounced deceased by the Sioux County Medical Examiner.

According to Sioux County Sheriff Dan Altena, he requested that the Iowa DCI conduct the investigation into Herbst’s death, since the death happened in the Sioux County Jail.

Authorities say the investigation, which included an autopsy on Herbst’s body, concluded that his death was a suicide.

Sheriff Altena stated that the jail has numerous cameras throughout the facility, which are, he says,  continually monitored by the corrections staff. The corrections officers also perform physical checks within the entire jail, including the cells. The incident occurred inside one of the cells between the time periods the jail checks were performed by the corrections officer. Unfortunately there are no cameras inside the cells, according to Sheriff Altena. 

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Original story posted 9:15 am, 1/29/2018

Orange City, Iowa — The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is looking into the Sunday evening death of an inmate at the Sioux County Jail.

Sioux County authorities say Detention Officers located an unresponsive inmate in a cell around 6:30 Sunday evening (January 28th), and rendered emergency aid.

Authorities say rescue efforts were unsuccessful, and the inmate was pronounced dead by the Sioux County Medical Examiner. The name of the inmate has not been released, and Sheriff’s authorities say the case is being investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Orange City Ambulance, and Orange City Police Department.

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