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Prosecutor asks State Police to continue inmate death probe

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP) — A Virginia prosecutor says she has asked Virginia State Police for additional investigative work into the death of a mentally ill inmate at a Portsmouth jail last year. Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales’ office says it received a preliminary report Tuesday from Virginia State Police, which is conducting a criminal investigation…

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FILE - This Sept. 2, 2015 file photo shows the the door to the cell at Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth, Va., where 24-year-old Jamycheal Mitchell was found dead Aug. 19, 2015. A year after the death of the mentally ill Virginia inmate, questions remain about how the otherwise healthy man deteriorated in plain sight of jail and health officials. In June 2016, Virginia State Police announced a criminal investigation into the matter. (Bill Tiernan/The Virginian-Pilot via AP, File)
FILE – This Sept. 2, 2015 file photo shows the the door to the cell at Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth, Va., where 24-year-old Jamycheal Mitchell was found dead Aug. 19, 2015. A year after the death of the mentally ill Virginia inmate, questions remain about how the otherwise healthy man deteriorated in plain sight of jail and health officials. In June 2016, Virginia State Police announced a criminal investigation into the matter. (Bill Tiernan/The Virginian-Pilot via AP, File)

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP) — A Virginia prosecutor says she has asked Virginia State Police for additional investigative work into the death of a mentally ill inmate at a Portsmouth jail last year.

Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales’ office says it received a preliminary report Tuesday from Virginia State Police, which is conducting a criminal investigation into Jamycheal Mitchell’s death.

Morales’ office says she asked for additional work to be done by State Police. She says a decision about whether to bring charges will be made once all findings are turned over.

Mitchell was arrested in April 2015 for stealing $5 worth of junk food from a 7-Eleven.

Mitchell’s family filed a $60 million lawsuit accusing jail officials of physically abusing Mitchell and withholding food. The jail has pushed back fiercely against those claims.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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