BOX ELDER COUNTY – June 20, 2021
An inmate at the Box Elder County Jail in Brigham City under the custody of the Box Elder Sheriff’s Office, passed away less than two hours after being admitted to a local hospital after experiencing detox symptoms while withdrawing from controlled substances shortly after his arrest two days prior.
Brigham City resident Thomas Jeffrey Johnston, 50, was arrested on Thursday, June 17, 2021, on outstanding criminal warrants for misdemeanor drug possession charges out of Box Elder County Justice Court. He was booked into the Box Elder County Jail and began experiencing detox and withdrawal symptoms during the booking process.
Johnston was housed in an observation cell and was monitored by deputies and medical staff at the jail where he received treatment for detox symptoms. At approximately 11 p.m. on June 19, 2021, Johnston notified jail staff that he was feeling unwell and couldn’t urinate. He was transported and admitted to Brigham City Community Hospital where his condition worsened. He pronounced dead shortly after midnight on Sunday, June 20.
The Box Elder County Sheriff invoked the critical incident protocol, and the Northern Utah Critical Incident Team were both notified. The Cache County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting a death investigation.
