On Friday, officers at the Ravalli County, Mont., Detention Center found inmate Scott W. Lewis dead in his cell, apparently of suicide, the third such incident this year.
The victim was found shortly before noon, according to a press release. Lewis, 39, was taken to Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital where he died.
He was in jail on two felony counts of allegedly selling methamphetamine and misdemeanor charges of possessing drug paraphernalia and partner or family member assault.
Lewis had been in court as recently as Wednesday when the judge denied a motion to suppress evidence.
Sheriff Chris Hoffman said he is baffled with the series of suicides.
"We have taken extraordinary precautions," Hoffman said. "We have brought mental health (counselors) into the jail no less than 10 times in the last several weeks to speak to inmates we were concerned about or who had requested mental health counseling."
It's not known if Lewis was one of the inmates evaluated by a counselor.
A press conference has been scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. in front of the Sheriff's office to give more details regarding the death, according to the press release.
In the past 15 months five detention center inmates have killed themselves or attempted to commit suicide.
Less than a month ago Ryan G. Heath of Hamilton died by his own hand in the detention center, and Brad Palin hanged himself in March while in custody.
In September detention officers saved a man's life who had attempted suicide, and last February an inmate hanged himself while behind bars. A corner's inquest ruled that death a suicide.
Before last year it had been more than six years since an inmate had died at the detention center, according to officials.
The Missoula County Sheriff's Office is conducting the investigation of the most recent suicide and a corner's inquest will be held.