Inmate commits suicide in Lincoln County

An inmate at the Lincoln County Detention Center committed suicide on Thursday.

The man, whose name has not been released, was not from the area. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said the man appears to have been a transient.

The 55-year-old man was arrested at about 3:30 p.m. by the Libby Police Department on charges of misdemeanor theft, possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. The man also had a $10,000 felony theft arrest warrant out of Oregon.

The man was received at the detention facility at approximately 3:38 p.m., and committed suicide at around 6 p.m. while in a solitary cell.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, there was no indication that the man was suicidal during the arrest or processing at the detention facility. The man appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and possibly drugs.

The Sanders County coroner took custody of the body, which will be transported to the State Crime Lab in Missoula for an autopsy.

The State Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident at the request of the Sheriff’s Office.