Anniston, AL. – The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office has reported that on January 22, 2023, at approximately 5:10 pm, an inmate being held in the medical section of the jail was found unconscious and unresponsive. Ricky Newell, 73, was served his evening meal from a correctional officer at approximately 4:51 pm and appeared to be alert and normal. Approximately 20 minutes later other inmates alerted correctional officers that Newell appeared to be suffering from a medical emergency.
The facility nurse and correctional officers attempted to provide emergency assistance and initiated CPR on Newell. In addition to manual CPR, they also utilized the electronic defibrillator but were unable to resuscitate Newell. EMS arrived but it was determined that he had passed away.
Ricky Newell had been in the Calhoun County Jail since December 3, 2022, and was awaiting his next court date. Newell’s body was transported to the State Department of Forensic Science where an autopsy will be performed. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was called in to conduct an independent investigation into this incident.
