CLEARWATER
Inmate found dead at Pinellas County jail
An inmate was found dead at the Pinellas County jail this week, though authorities said his death does not appear suspicious.
Joseph Ignus Stephen, 26, was found unresponsive in his bunk by other inmates around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, around the time breakfast trays were being served, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
The inmates alerted jail employees. Stephen was taken to Northside Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The Sheriff's Office said Stephen showed no obvious sign of injury and that he had a documented medical history with the jail. Stephen has been held at the jail several times, most recently booked there Dec. 13 on charges that included sale of cocaine, burglary and trespassing.
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/Jfti70ULfGf8jsmx4O74WFg-PzM=/fit-in/1066x600/smart/filters:fill(000)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ZJ7AWNYWGZDZPCO4HO4ZRRY5NM.jpg "Man faces murder charge after Pasco shootout that killed suspect, injured trooper, officials say")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/lEiXPi6Q7xfhlZEo4knKF6QNDoI=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/CXQZNQ6CERDLDI43CTVLC64TL4.png "Pinellas deputy fired after DUI arrest")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/7CTCWJMAAVCPVBVVLJCJXR7GAM.JPG "Pinellas County’s Teacher of the Year is Azalea Middle School’s Adam Zele")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/7N57YHROPU5V7WLEVB4HZBJW4U.jpg "Florida housing bill moves forward despite questions about local rent control ban")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/SIHMLPT7BVESLAXRWZ3HK5XAJY.jpg "Disney to cut 7,000 jobs in Iger’s company ‘transformation’")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/D5SH6XNJGEHBRK5R4T4VHMS7TY.jpg "Joe Biden will come to Tampa to tout agenda in increasingly red Florida")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/PUVZJAWOMDQO3XQLR45XKELO34.jpg "DeSantis’ Reedy Creek bill passes committee, with tax benefits intact")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/HS5QIUA4ZTQHBABI4WR36NXBDE.jpg "Florida name, image and likeness repeal clears 2 committee hurdles Wednesday")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/DLLHRBCS4RFBPA6X5ZRTZ6HTNE.jpeg "Gulfport caretaker, 79, stole $450,000 from woman she met at ALF, police say")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/SQKEH5FTTRD4HNI4JGAR32SVGM.jpg "Busch Gardens will open Serengeti Flyer this month")