The death of Anthony Howard, 50, an inmate at the East Arkansas Regional Unit in Brickeys (Lee County) has been referred to the Arkansas State Police for investigation, according to a release from the Arkansas Department of Correction.

Howard, who was serving a 15-year sentence out of Sebastian County for criminal conspiracy to commit rape and aggravated assault, among other charges, was seen unconscious in a single-man cell at 10:17 p.m. Sept. 15. Medical staff attempted emergency treatment, but Howard was pronounced dead at 10:35 p.m.

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Two other deaths in separate ADC facilities were referred to ASP for an investigation earlier this month.

Here is the full release from ADC:

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On Friday, September 15, 2017 at approximately 10:17 p.m., correctional officers at the East Arkansas Regional Unit in Brickeys Arkansas (Lee County), observed Inmate Anthony Howard #94004 unconscious in his single-man cell. Responding correctional officers and medical staff began emergency treatment. Inmate Howard did not regain consciousness and was pronounced dead at 10:35 p.m.Inmate Howard was a 50 year old black male serving a 15 year sentence for Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Rape, Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm by a Certain Person; all out of Sebastian County.

Inmate Howard’s death has been referred to the State Police for investigation. Pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated 12-12-315, notification of the death was also made to the local Coroner and to the State Medical Examiner’s Office. The Department of Correction will be conducting an internal investigation in to the circumstances surrounding the death.

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