Cherokee County inmate dies hours after arrest

Brice Turner, pictured in this 2013 Cherokee County mug shot, died early Thursday.

Credit: Cherokee County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Cherokee County Sheriff's Office

Brice Turner, pictured in this 2013 Cherokee County mug shot, died early Thursday.

An inmate died hours after arriving at the Cherokee County jail, the sheriff’s office said Thursday.

Brice Turner, 33, of Woodstock, was arrested Wednesday night on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and crossing guard lines with drugs, Cherokee County sheriff’s Sgt. Marianne Kelley said in a statement.

Woodstock police, who made the arrest, took him to the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center about 11:15 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office. He was placed in a holding cell but required medical attention during the booking process, Kelley told AJC.com.

Roughly two hours later, Turner had to be rushed to Northside Hospital-Cherokee after deputies and medical staff administered lifesaving efforts and “determined his health was declining,” Kelley said.

Turner was pronounced dead at the hospital.

An autopsy will be conducted by the GBI Crime Lab to determine the cause of death. The GBI is investigating, which is standard protocol in any in-custody death.

Turner was previously arrested and booked in the jail in 2013 on a probation violation charge. According to the Georgia Department of Corrections, he was in prison for 18 months on multiple charges in Cherokee County, including possession of methamphetamine, possession of a deportation stimulant counterfeit drug, fleeing police and reckless driving. He was also convicted on a possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute charge in Cobb County.

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