Inmate dies from ‘medical condition’
A Bradley County Jail inmate died Friday morning after suffering from what Bradley County sheriff’s officials described as “a medical condition.”
Hershal C. Dover, 53, vomited, collapsed and stopped breathing in the jail’s booking area at 5:58 a.m., according to Bradley 911 records. After receiving CPR, he was transported by Bradley County Emergency Medical Services to Tennova HealthCare, where he was later pronounced dead.
“Corrections officers responded to the sick inmate and rendered CPR,” said Sheriff Eric Watson, who indicated Dover had been revived before he left the jail.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and 10th Judicial District Attorney Steve Crump were notified of the incident, which is standard procedure for inmate deaths, Bradley County Sheriff ’s Office spokesman Ed Ramsey said.
TBI spokeswoman Susan Niland confirmed the agency has opened an investigation into Dover’s death.
Dover had been in the jail booking area, described by Watson as a big, temporary holding room with 15 beds, since his March 16 arrest for a misdemeanor probation violation in connection to a simple possession arrest made on June 20, 2015. He was placed on probation on Aug. 6.
His violations included a failure to make good efforts to pay more than $1,000 in court fines and probation fees and for not contacting his probation officer since Aug. 15, according to Bradley County General Sessions Court records. On March 17, his bond was set at $500.
Dover was arrested in June at his King Edward Avenue address when a police off icer observed “a clear plastic baggie containing a green leafy substance in plain view” on a living room table, according to a citation report. The off icer was responding to the home, in conjunction with Bradley County EMS, for a medical call.
After Dover admitted the bag belonged to him, he was arrested for simple possession of a Schedule VI drug, which includes marijuana. The amount of the drug confiscated by the police was recorded as .005 ounces.
In October 2014, Bradley County Jail inmate Joey Ray died while in custody. Officials have attributed his death to natural causes.
Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-7576481 or pleach@times freepress.com.