Norfolk, Va. – A medical examiner in says a 56-year-old Norfolk City Jail inmate died of a pulmonary embolism.
Reginald Cooper was found guilty of pickpocketing less than $5 in December 2015. He was sentenced to serve five weekends in jail.
Cooper was booked to serve his third weekend out of the five on February 20, 2016. He was set to be released from custody on Sunday, February 21 at 3:30 p.m.
Norfolk City Jail staff noticed Cooper was unresponsive in his cell just after 2 p.m. on Sunday.
The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office released him from custody an hour earlier than scheduled due to his condition.
Seven members of the jail’s medical staff attended to Cooper. Paramedics were called immediately and took Cooper to the hospital.
Cooper was pronounced dead in the hospital shortly before 11 p.m. on February 21.
