CBIT continues jail death investigation
The Central Basin Investigative Team is concluding its investigation regarding Richard Lambert’s death at the Grant County Jail Dec. 31. The team received Lambert’s official cause of death which was sepsis due to peritonitis and the manner of the death was ruled an accident. The team also verified that Lambert’s injuries had come from a bicycle crash two days prior to his arrest.
R. HANS MILLER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
EPHRATA – The Central Basin Investigative Team determined that Richard Lambert’s death at the Grant County Jail was due to sepsis caused by an accident prior to his arrest, according to a statement from Ephrata Police Department Captain Troy Froewiss.
Froewiss was not available for comment Thursday.
“According to the Grant County Coroner’s Office, Mr. Lambert’s official cause of death was Sepsis due to Peritonitis and the manner of death was ruled an Accident; operator of a bicycle that wrecked on railroad tracks,” the statement read.
According to an earlier Grant County Sheriff's Office statement, Lambert had been booked into the Grant County Jail on Dec. 27 on suspicion of second-degree criminal trespassing and obstructing law enforcement. Lambert was found by corrections deputies at around 6:15 a.m. after he did not show up for breakfast. He was found deceased in his bed. The Ephrata Fire Department and Lifeline Ambulance responded to verify his condition, and he was declared dead soon after.
It is unknown what medical assistance was made available to Lambert during his time at the jail.
According to the Thursday press release, CBIT has concluded the last 10 witness interviews and investigators are working on completing their reports. CBIT also received the official cause and manner of death from the Grant County Coroner’s Office. According to GCCO, Lambert’s cause of death was sepsis due to peritonitis and the manner of the death was ruled an accident.
CBIT verified a bicycle crash occurred two days prior to Lambert’s arrest and the injuries he had sustained were consistent with the bicycle crash on the railroad tracks.
At this point in the investigation, CBIT has confirmed that no use of force by police occurred during Lambert’s arrest. He was also not assaulted or handled forcefully while held at the Grant County Jail.
CBIT is a regional team of law enforcement investigators from Grant, Adams and Kittitas counties. The investigative team for this incident includes investigators from the Ephrata Police Department, the Ellensburg Police Department, the Quincy Police Department, the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Department and the Washington State Patrol. This investigation also includes two community representatives, one from Ephrata and one from Moses Lake.
CBIT has now requested the assistance of an independent subject matter medical expert and an independent subject matter expert for correctional facilities. The experts will assist CBIT with evaluating the best practices in comparison to Lambert’s care while incarcerated.
Although a criminal investigation has been initiated, Froewiss said it is not indicative that a crime has occurred. CBIT will continue to investigate the circumstances of Lambert’s death. Then evaluate the evidence. When completed they will present the facts to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office for review, according to the statement.