Yellow Medicine County Jail inmate dies of apparent suicide
GRANITE FALLS -- A 37-year-old Granite Falls man died of an apparent suicide early Tuesday in the Yellow Medicine County Jail.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy on Shane Dean Hildahl, who apparently used bed linens to hang himself, according to a news release from the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff's Office.
According to the release, Hildahl was found by a corrections officer during a well-being check shortly before 2 a.m.
Hildahl had been alone in his cell since 11:30 p.m. Monday, and corrections officers had last checked on him at 1:30 a.m., the release said. The officer who discovered Hildahl immediately called an ambulance and requested assistance from deputies and Granite Falls police.
The Sheriff's Office has issued a statement that no more information will be released at this time, because the incident is still under investigation. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting in the investigation.
Hildahl was arrested in early June on a felony charge of second-degree drug sale and a gross misdemeanor charge of contributing to the need for child protection or services. On Monday, he had been in court for a settlement conference on his case. His next court date would have been Sept. 26.
