Detainee is found hanged in cell, an apparent suicide

6-7-2007 Maryland:
A detainee at Central Booking and Intake Center was found hanging from a sheet in his cell Tuesday night in an apparent suicide, officials said yesterday.

It was the third suicide this year at the detention facility, according to Barbara Cooper, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Division of Pretrial Detention and Services. At 8:10 p.m., a correctional officer found Franklin L. Halterman, 33, of Northeast Baltimore hanging from the ceiling of his cell with a sheet tied around his neck, Cooper said.

The officer cut Halterman down, called 911 and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation, aided by an emergency medical unit, she said.

Halterman was then taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 8:45 p.m., officials said.

He had been held at central booking since April 30, awaiting a hearing this month on several sex crimes charges, including sexual abuse of a minor, according to court records.

Because the incident is under investigation, officials would not say whether Halterman had been on suicide watch. ..more.. by Baltimore Sun