ME: Asthma attack killed inmate at Linn County Jail

An asthma attack killed Elmo Davis, the Chicago man who was stricken while a prisoner in the Linn County Jail in August.

An autopsy determined Davis, 24, died suddenly of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the medical term for asthma, Dr. Michele Catellier of the state medical examiner's office said Wednesday. Davis' cause of death will be listed as natural.

Davis died at Mercy Medical Center the afternoon of Aug. 23. He was taken to the hospital after losing consciousness while being examined outside a third-floor holding cell in the jail,

Police arrested Davis, who listed a Chicago address, about 1:30 a.m. that morning at The Tycoon, bar at 427 Second Ave. SE, on an Illinois warrant for violating probation. A Cook County Judicial Circuit clerk said Davis was convicted of attempted robbery after a February 2008 incident.

Davis complained of shortness of breath about 9:30 a.m. while awaiting an initial court appearance via a video connection. A deputy gave Davis his inhaler and retrieved it after the court appearance.

Davis asked for and was given his inhaler again a few minutes before noon. He lost consciousness while being examined outside his cell, and an ambulance was called. Davis was pronounced dead about 20 minutes after arriving at Mercy.