20-023 Detectives Investigate Inmate Death At Pinellas County Jail; Death Does Not Appear To Be Suspicious In Nature
Inmate Death
Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Robbery/Homicide Unit
Department of Detention and Corrections
-Detention Investigation Unit (DIU)
James Johnstone (Deceased Inmate)
DOB: 03/15/1965
Address: Pinellas County Jail -14400 49th Street North, Clearwater
What:
Detectives assigned to the Robbery/Homicide Unit are investigating the death of an inmate at the Pinellas County Jail.
When:
The inmate died at about 3:12 p.m. on Sunday, February 9, 2020.
Where:
Pinellas County Jail is located at 14400 49th Street North, in Clearwater.
The inmate was located inside of his assigned housing area of the jail at the time of his death.
Why/How:
At approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday, February 9, 2020, 54-year-old inmate James Johnstone was located inside of his assigned housing area of the Pinellas County Jail when fellow inmates alerted detention staff to Johnstone being unresponsive.
A jail doctor was already on the housing wing when detention staff was notified of the emergency. The doctor and medical staff immediately responded and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Johnstone with negative results.
Johnstone was pronounced deceased at about 3:12 p.m. Sunday, February 9, 2020.
Detectives say inmate Johnstone had no obvious signs of injury and no incidents of confrontation or use of force. His death does not appear to be suspicious in nature.
Johnstone was arrested on February, 8, 2020 by the Largo Police Department and charged with Failure To Appear on a misdemeanor charge of Trespass After Warning.
Next of kin has been notified.
The Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to determine cause and manner of death.
The investigation continues.
