Pubdate: Tue, 23 Feb 2016
Source: Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Copyright: 2016 The Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.morningjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3569

POLICE OFFICER HELD ON DRUG CHARGES KILLS HIMSELF IN JAIL

COLUMBUS (AP) - Authorities say a central Ohio police detective who 
was arrested last week on federal drug charges killed himself in jail.

The Delaware County Sheriff's Office says 43-year-old Tye Downard 
hanged himself in his one-person cell early Monday. Downard had been 
an officer in the Columbus suburb of Reynoldsburg.

He was found dead during hourly inmate checks. He had not been on 
suicide watch. Other details weren't available, but the sheriff's 
office says there was no negligence by employees.

Downard was arrested Thursday and charged with delivering drugs 
including heroin, cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills to an 
individual to sell.

Federal authorities say Downard made more than 20 deliveries of 
narcotics between October 2015 and February 2016. Court documents say 
some of the drugs were seized during police investigations.
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