Texarkana Inmate Found Dead in Jail Cell

A Texarkana, Ark., man who was in the Bi-State Jail was found dead today by authorities.

The Texarkana, Ark., Police Department was notified by jail staff this morning, at approximately 6:30 a.m. that an TAPD inmate, Michael Sabbie, was found in his cell unresponsive. He was in a cell by himself. The jail medical staff provided immediate CPR and LifeNet Paramedics were called to the jail.

A TAPD Patrol Supervisor went immediately to the jail facility and contacted Criminal Investigation Division Supervisors, Detectives, and Crime Scene Unit Investigators, according a press release issued by the Texarkana, Ark., Police.

Michael Sabbie was pronounced deceased and his body sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy.

Michael Sabbie, a black male, was 35 years old and a resident of Texarkana, Ark. He was in custody in the Bi-State Jail for a recent Domestic Assault Arrest at the time of his death.

The Criminal Investigation Division with TAPD is currently investigating this case. Authorities are interviewing jail staff, checking jail records and reviewing jail video.  Police say they are not far enough into the investigation to make any further comments at this time. A death notification to his next of kin has been made.

President George Bush signed the Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2000 (DICRA) in October of 2000.  This law requires states to participate in the Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth in Sentencing (VOI/TIS) program and submit quarterly reports documenting deaths in custody. Local law enforcement reports this information to the Arkansas Crime Information Center.