Prisoner’s death starts probe by state police

Simpson was serving a 65-year sentence for delivery of meth or cocaine out of Washington County.

Arkansas State Police will investigate the death of an inmate who was found hanging in his cell, according to a news release from the Arkansas Department of Correction.

Jamaal Simpson, 38, was found unresponsive in his cell Sunday at East Arkansas Regional Unit in Brickeys, authorities said. Correctional officers said Simpson had a homemade noose around his neck.

Medical staff and officers performed emergency medical treatment and Simpson was transported to a local hospital for further treatment. Officials said Simpson was pronounced dead Monday.

Simpson was serving a 65-year sentence for delivery of meth or cocaine out of Washington County. His body will be turned over to the Arkansas State Crime Lab and the Arkansas State Police, who will investigate the death.

In 2013, Simpson attempted to jump over a staircase railing outside a courtroom at the Benton County courthouse after his bid for a new trial was denied.

Simpson appealed his conviction, claiming Circuit Judge Robin Green erred when she denied him a mental competency hearing before his trial started in December 2013.

Immediately after the ruling, Simpson — who had his arms chained at his waist and had chains on his ankles — left the courtroom with a Benton County sheriff’s deputy quickly trailing behind him. The deputy grabbed the chains as Simpson attempted to jump over the railing of the third-floor courtroom.

Simpson’s death is the third inmate death reported since March 10 in an Arkansas correctional facility.

Robert White, 42, was discovered dead March 10 by staff members at the Ouachita River Correctional Unit in Malvern, and 29-year-old Randall Myers was found unresponsive in his cell early March 11 at the Varner Unit in Grady, according to prisons spokesman Solomon Graves. Prison officials said White’s death appears to have been suicide.

The Arkansas State Police also is investigating the deaths of White and Myers.