FBI investigating what inmate's jailers call a suicide

FBI investigating what inmate's jailers call a suicide
By Nathan C. Gonzalez
The Salt Lake Tribune

Article Last Updated: 12/09/2007 01:36:15 AM MST


The FBI said Saturday it is investigating the death of a Box Elder County jail inmate who jail officials say committed suicide last month.
FBI spokesman Juan Becerra said federal officials are looking into alleged civil rights violations related to the death of inmate Chad Peterson, 26, who died Nov. 10 at the jail.
"The only thing I can say is we are looking into that as a civil rights violation," Becerra said Saturday. "Any civil rights case referred to us, we have to do an investigation in a quick manner."
Word of the FBI's investigation came as a surprise to Box Elder Sheriff Lynn Yeates. "We've had no contact from anybody with the FBI," he said, adding an internal investigation into Peterson's death is ongoing and deputies are awaiting autopsy and toxicology results from the medical examiner.
Jail officials have said that Peterson was found dead inside his cell less than 24 hours after being booked Nov. 9. The sheriff's office said Peterson hanged himself.
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