N.C. Detention Officer Dies from Medical Emergency after Clash with Inmate

Dec. 12, 2023

Sgt. Russell Jones, a detention officer with the Pamlico County Sheriff's Office, suffered a fatal heart attack minutes after he was punched in the face while trying to subdue an inmate at the detention center in Bayboro.

Source Officer.com News

Joe Vince

Sgt. Russell Jones, a detention officer with the Pamlico County, NC, Sheriff's Office.

A North Carolina detention officer died after a medical emergency last week.

Sgt. Russell Earl Lavarl Jones, a detention officer with the Pamlico County Sheriff's Office was working at Pamlico Correctional Institution in Bayboro on Dec. 6 when the medical event occurred, WCTI-TV reports. He was punched in the face while trying to subdue a disruptive inmate and collapsed from a fatal heart attack minutes later, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.

"Sergeant Jones demonstrated unwavering commitment to serving his community and fellow officers. He will never be forgotten," a release from the sheriff's office stated.

Jones, 36, worked as a detention officer with the sheriff's office since June 2019.

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.