Officials Probe Death Of 84-Year-Old Florida Jail Inmate

LAKELAND (CBSMiami/AP) — The death of an elderly Florida jail inmate has raised some eyebrows.

Authorities are investigating the death of an 84-year-old inmate who fell down a flight of stairs.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Sunday that inmate Arthur Gilmore hit his head during the fall, suffering a laceration.

Officials say he was initially responsive and talking, telling deputies that he failed to grasp a handrail on the stairs.

Later Gilmore became unresponsive and was taken to a hospital, where he died early Sunday.

Gilmore was jailed for violating probation by having contact with a child. The probation followed a 10-year prison sentence Gilmore served after pleading guilty to attempted sexual battery of a child. He was released in February 2018.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)