Inmate who died at Linn County Jail identified

CEDAR RAPIDS — An inmate who died after being found unresponsive in a cell at the Linn County Jail was identified Friday at Timothy Scott Towne, 58, of Cedar Rapids.

Towne was being held on several charges since Dec. 7 at the jail and faced a Feb. 24 trial, records show.

According to a news release, jail staff about 3:54 p.m. Thursday discovered him unconscious in a cell. A medical emergency was declared over the jail’s radios and nurses and additional staff responded to the cellblock. Staff began CPR and connected Towne to an automated external defibrillator. Additional paramedics responded to help, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office said.

Towne, who had what authorities say was “an extensive medical history,” died despite the attempts to save him.

The Linn County Medical Examiner’s Office ordered an autopsy. The death was reported to the State Jail Inspector and the incident is under investigation, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Towne was being held after an October incident in southwest Cedar Rapids where police said he was in possession of crack cocaine and alprazolam without a prescription. He had pleaded not guilty.