By Scott Buttram
BIRMINGHAM — An inmate died Saturday at the Jefferson County Jail after a deputy deployed a Taser to bring the inmate under control, according to a statement from Randy Christian of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Ricky Deangelo Hinkle, 47, was being held on a probation violation at the time of the incident.
Hinkle was being moved to a cell for monitoring after threatening to harm himself, according to the report.
“When they arrived at the cell the inmate became combative, refused to enter and began scuffling with one of the deputies,” Christian’s statement said. “A second deputy deployed a Taser to bring the inmate under control. After engagement the inmate fell to the floor and became unresponsive. On duty jail medical personnel responded, followed by paramedics and were unable to revive him. The inmate was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.”
The statement said the incident began when deputies were removing a disruptive inmate from lunch service.
The Alabama Bureau of Investigation will handle the death investigation.