Lehigh jail death investigated

Officials are investigating the death of an inmate in the Lehigh County Jail.

At 7:54 p.m. on Tuesday, Dawson Thomas, 20, was found unresponsive in his cell.

Staff immediately declared a medical emergency and began administering CPR. On site medical personnel assisted with lifesaving efforts. The responding paramedics took over the scene and Thomas

was taken by ambulance to St. Luke’s Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown, where he was

pronounced dead at 8:24 p.m.

Lehigh County District Attorney’s office and the Lehigh County Coroner’s office are investigating the death. An autopsy will be scheduled and further information will be released by the coroner’s office.

Dawson was admitted to the Lehigh County Jail on Nov. 29.