Three people have died over the last two weeks in detention facilities in Alaska Native communities.
Robert Nick, 54, died in a jail in Akiachak on Friday, May 10, The Anchorage Daily News reported. The incident is under investigation by the Alaska State Troopers.
"On 5/10/19 at about 2053 hours, Alaska State Troopers in Bethel received a call from Tribal Police in the village of Akiachak reporting a death at the village jail. Earlier in the evening Robert Nick (54 yoa of Akiachak) had been placed into protective custody by tribal police officers due to his level of intoxication. Robert was found unresponsive in the jail cell by tribal jail guards," the
dispatch report AK19030381 states. "Life saving measures were attempted, but unsuccessful. Troopers responded by boat to Akiachak and conducted an investigation. The remains have been sent to the State Medical Examiners Office in Anchorage. Next of kin has been notified. This incident remains under investigation. Alcohol appears to be a contributing factor."
Becca White, 24, and Isaiah Parka, 22, died in a jail in Napakiak on Sunday, April 28, The Daily News reported. Both had been locked in their cells when a fire broke out in the facility.
“What I’m wondering is why they couldn’t open the jail cells right away,” Miranda White, who is Becca's sister, told the paper. “If they had the keys, why didn’t they just open it?”
In an updated
dispatch AK19027173, the Alaska State Troopers said:
"The deceased have been tentatively identified as Becca White, age 24, and Isaiah Parka, age 22, both of Napakiak. Their next of kin have been notified. Positive identification still needs to be confirmed by the State Medical Examiner’s Office. The two jail guards were both transported out of the community for treatment. It was determined that one of the jail guards did not need further treatment. The other jail guard was medivaced out of state and is reportedly in serious but stable condition. The General Investigation Unit out of the Mat-Su is taking case responsibility and working in conjunction with the State Fire Marshals Office."
Akiachak and Napakiak are both located along the Kuskokwim River in the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta.
Read More on the Story
Man dies in Western Alaska village jail
(The Anchorage Daily News May 12, 2019)
Deaths of woman and man in Napakiak jail fire raise questions about safety in village holding cells
(The Anchorage Daily News April 30, 2019)
Two prisoners killed, guard injured in jail fire in Southwest Alaska village
(The Anchorage Daily News April 28, 2019)
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