Doña Ana County Inmate Dies After Choking on Bag of Drugs

LAS CRUCES, NM — An inmate in Doña Ana dies after county officials say he swallowed a bag of drug he was hiding from prison guards.

Doña Ana County Spokesperson Jess Williams confirms with L4N a male inmate died last Thursday after corrections officers say he was hiding a bag of drugs in a body cavity, when the guards tried obtaining the bag, the inmate swallowed the drugs, and choked to death.

Williams says officer were following protocal and there is no indication of inmate brutality, although the death remains under investigation.