ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri is calling for an independent investigation after an inmate was found hanged inside the St. Louis city jail.
David Dalton was found hanging Tuesday and pronounced dead at the scene. The 29-year-old was in jail since May awaiting trial for first-degree robbery. He had been offered a plea deal on Monday that would have likely meant he would go to prison.
ACLU director Brenda Jones says the incident fits a pattern that has been reported to the ACLU, which last week asked the Justice Department to investigate the jail. Justice officials have not said if they will investigate.
An official at the jail says Dalton had been checked by guards not long before he was found and was fine.
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