The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the death of an inmate in the La Porte County Jail Tuesday, May 7 at about 8 a.m. CT.
Police say an inmate assigned to the same cell as 27-year-old Coltyn Nowatzke alerted jail staff of an emergency. Jail Division deputies, along with medical staff, responded and found Nowatzke unresponsive. Deputies and a nurse immediately began to render aid and resuscitation efforts.
Members of the La Porte County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived and transported Nowatzke to Northwest Health – La Porte Campus. Nowatzke was later pronounced as deceased by the medical staff at Northwest Health, according to the report.
A Michigan City Police Department Officer arrested Nowatzke Friday, May 3 for a violation of probation/petition to revoke suspended sentence warrant that had been issued through Superior Court IV in April. Nowatzke was booked into the La Porte County Jail later that evening where he remained housed until Tuesday morning.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division were contacted, and a death investigation has been initiated. The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released.
The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office was also assisted by the La Porte County Coroners Office and the La Porte Fire Department.
