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Police: Salem man dead from apparent suicide at Marion County Jail

A Marion County Jail inmate died Sunday after an apparent suicide, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said Monday.

Thomas Denn, 31, was found “unresponsive” inside his jail cell 1 a.m. Saturday morning after what the sheriff’s office called an attempted suicide. Spokesman Lt. Chris Baldridge said no further details could be disclosed.

Deputies performed CPR on Denn before taking him by ambulance to Salem Hospital. The following day, officials learned from the hospital that Denn had died. The death was made public in a press release Monday.

Baldridge said the Sheriff’s Office has asked Linn County to investigate the death.

Denn had been jailed since March 6, according to court records. The Aumsville Police Department arrested him for attempting to flee a police officer, two counts of failure to perform the duties of a driver to an injured person, two counts of fourth-degree assault, driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving and interfering with a peace officer.

The death comes as both suicide and inmate deaths have become focal points statewide.

This week, media outlets across Oregon began coordinated coverage to report on suicide, which killed more than 800 people in the state in 2017, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Meanwhile, Oregon lawmakers proposed legislation last week to bolster data on inmates after reporting by OPB, KUOW and the Northwest News Network found more than 300 people have died in Pacific Northwest jails since 2008. The reporting found nearly half were suicides.

Have a tip? Contact reporter Troy Brynelson at 503-575-9930, [email protected] or @TroyWB.

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Thomas Denn (Courtesy of Marion County Sheriff’s Office)