TBI investigating man’s death at Grundy County jail
The sheriff’s office said Ronnie Ledbetter was involved in an accident and appeared to be “heavily intoxicated” when deputies arrived.
ALTAMONT, Tenn. (WSMV) - The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of a man at the Grundy County Jail last week, according to the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office.
During the early morning hours of May 29, deputies responded to a crash on Sherrell Road in Pelham. While deputies were responding, dispatchers said a man, later identified as Ronnie Ledbetter, became combative with EMS personnel and physically assaulted one of them.
Deputies said Ledbetter appeared as if he was “heavily intoxicated” on some type of narcotic, and continued to be combative and was actively resisting.
After being cleared by EMS personnel, Ledbetter was taken into custody and placed in the back of a patrol unit. Deputies said Ledbetter began trying to kick the glass out from the backseat and also attempted head-butting the glass. He was moved to a car with bars on the windows and taken to the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the sheriff, Ledbetter continued to fight and resist deputies while they were getting him out of the patrol vehicle and into a booking cell. Once inside the jail, deputies secured Ledbetter and removed his handcuffs. As deputies placed him in a seated position, they noticed he had stopped breathing.
Deputies administered Narcan and began CPR on Ledbetter. A defibrillator was also used. He was taken to the hospital in Sewanee by ambulance while EMS personnel continued CPR. Upon arrival at the hospital, he was pronounced dead.
The sheriff’s office contacted the 12th Judicial District Attorney General, who is working with the TBI on the death investigation.
Deputies said Ledbetter was later found to be a registered sex offender from Franklin County with active warrants. They said Ledbetter’s warrant identified him as an escape risk.
The sheriff’s office provided camera footage from the jail and from the scene of his arrest to TBI agents as part of the investigation.
“The investigation remains active and ongoing, and the results of Ledbetter’s autopsy are pending.
Copyright 2024 WSMV. All rights reserved.
