Police investigating inmate death at Salt Lake County Jail

SOUTH SALT LAKE — Police are investigating the death of a 31-year-old inmate who was found unresponsive in a housing unit at the Salt Lake County Jail.

Levi Cleveland, who police say was serving a 120-day sentence for drug-related charges, died at a hospital Monday morning despite lifesaving efforts from jail nurses and deputies.

“Cleveland, like all newly booked inmates, was housed in a precautionary quarantine unit,” the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “This precautionary quarantine lasts for 30 days, in effort to reduce the risk of introducing the virus into the facility. In the event of a positive COVID-19 test, an inmate and his or her close contacts is placed on medical quarantine. Medical quarantine includes housing inmates in individual cells, testing, monitoring for symptoms, and treatment.”

The cause of death is unknown, and South Salt Lake police are investigating the incident.

On Nov. 23, police say a judge had ordered a conditional release for Cleveland to an “alternative to incarceration program when a bed became available.”