Man in Perrysburg Twp. police custody attempts suicide
5/17/2013The man who attempted suicide while in Perrysburg Township police custody Tuesday night is still alive at Toledo Hospital, authorities said today.
The man, whose name was being withheld by township authorities, was taken to an area hospital, at which time he "had a pulse," according to Gary Britten, a township trustee. The man was still alive "as of a few hours ago," according to Jill Del Greco, public information officer for Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.
Perrysburg Township Administrator Walt Celley said the man was found unconscious during booking.
The incident occurred Tuesday night at a Perrysburg Township police holding cell at the police station in the 26600 block of Lime City Road between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., according to Mr. Celley. The victim was being held on suspicion of theft and assault, Mr. Celley said.
The man was originally treated by the Perrysburg Township EMT's and fire department and transported to St. Luke's Hospital before being transported to Toledo.
Mr. Celley would not speak about what happened because the incident remains under investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
"We wouldn't investigate ourselves. That would be irresponsible," he said.
He would say the holding cells are about 6-by-10 feet with a toilet, bunk, and only a few amenities. It is not an overnight cell, and it is used to detain people who are booked and waiting to be transported to the Wood County jail.
"They are usually only in there for two to three hours and are checked on every 15 minutes," Mr. Celley said. "We've never had anything like this happen. It is bizarre."
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was at the police station Tuesday night and again today to investigate.
Contact Mike Sigov at: 419-724-6089, sigov@theblade.com, or on Twitter @mikesigovblade.