Medical Examiner Determines Olmsted County Detainee's Death Cause

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner has determined an Olmsted County detainee's cause of death.

The ruling is in regard to the first of two detainee deaths reported in the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center this year. The detainee was found unresponsive in his cell during routine wellbeing checks in the early morning hours of January 16.

Parkin said the findings of the death investigation were brought before the Olmsted County Attorney's Office, which reached the same conclusion as law enforcement investigators and closed the case. The Minnesota BCA assisted the sheriff's office with the death investigation.

Simon was in custody at the jail for a felony assault charge in Olmsted County and a Minnesota Department of Corrections hold. The second detainee death reported at the jail this year happened in March.

Earlier this month the medical examiner determined that 59-year-old Melvin Tyrone Bush had also died of natural causes. The sheriff's office has extended its condolences to family and friends of both detainees.

Deputies and paramedics responded to the jail but were unable to revive the detainee, who is identified as 60-year-old Russell Simon Jr. The medical examiner ruled that Simon died of natural causes, Olmsted County Sheriff Captain Tim Parkin said Tuesday. Parkin said the findings of the death investigation were brought before the Olmsted County Attorney's Office, which reached the same conclusion as law enforcement investigators and closed the case. The Minnesota BCA assisted the sheriff's office with the death investigation.