On July 13, the Lynnwood Police Department requested that an independent investigation be completed by the Kirkland Police Department after a custody officer at Lynnwood Jail discovered a mid-40’s female inmate deceased near the jail showers.

The request for mutual aid was authorized by Kirkland Police Chief Cherie Harris and assigned a team of experienced Detectives. According to Lynnwood Police, the family of the deceased was notified of the incident and the investigation.

That same day Kirkland Detectives were given full access by the Lynnwood Police Department to its facilities, staff, reports and electronic/video data in order to conduct the most thorough, independent in-custody death investigation possible.

After their initial investigative response, Kirkland Detectives released the body of the deceased to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office where it was determined that the cause of death was suicide.

According to the City of Kirkland, this determination was consistent with the findings of the investigation that there was no police use of force on the individual.

On July 28, the Kirkland Police Detectives completed the independent investigation that was requested by the Lynnwood Police Department for an in-custody death and the independent investigation was delivered directly to the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office for review and they will determine whether any violation of criminal law occurred related to the in-custody death.