EVERETT — The Snohomish County Medical Examiner released the name of the 54-year-old man who died Sunday morning inside his cell at the Snohomish County Jail after staff found him unresponsive during a routine medication round.
At about 10:13 a.m. on Nov. 1, a corrections deputy assisting a nurse approached the cell of Robert Anthony Agustin and discovered him unresponsive. Detention and medical staff immediately entered the cell and began lifesaving efforts, but the attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, according to a statement from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.
The man had been booked into the jail three days earlier, on Oct. 29, by Everett police. He was held on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and a SODA violation — a Stay Out of Drug Area order.
His identity has not been released. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to determine the official cause and manner of death.
The Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is conducting the death investigation, a standard response when someone dies in custody. Independently, an unexpected fatality review will examine the case from a clinical perspective. Under Washington law (RCW 70.48.510), such reviews are required for unexpected deaths of people in jail custody. The review team, made up of individuals with no prior involvement in the case, analyzes potential root causes and develops recommendations aimed at preventing future fatalities and improving safety and health protections for people in custody. The clinical review is distinct from the criminal investigation and is intended to inform policy and practice changes rather than assign blame or support prosecution.
The Snohomish County Jail, located on Oakes Avenue in Everett and operated by the Sheriff’s Office Corrections Bureau, is a direct-supervision facility that houses both pretrial detainees and people serving shorter sentences.
Authorities have not released additional details about the man’s medical history, the specific circumstances inside the cell, or any observations made by staff before he was found unresponsive. Further information is expected once the medical examiner completes its examination and the two parallel reviews progress.
Author: Mario Lotmore
