PORT ALLEN — Two men have been charged with obstruction of justice following the death of an inmate at the West Baton Rouge Detention Center earlier this month.
According to the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, 38-year-old Ryan Moreau of Baton Rouge suffered an unknown medical emergency just after midnight on March 5 while incarcerated at the detention center.
Moreau was transported to a local hospital, where he remained in intensive care until he died several days later, according to a WBRSO press release.
MORE: West Baton Rouge Parish Detention Center inmate dies following ‘medical crisis’
An autopsy was conducted following Moreau’s death, but WBRSO says the official cause remains unconfirmed pending toxicology results. However, some details are beginning to emerge.
Authorities say that shortly before Moreau collapsed, he received an item or substance from fellow inmate Quwinton Norman, 34. As deputies rendered aid to Moreau, detectives say Norman then approached another inmate, Joshua Janise, 34.
“The investigation revealed that Janise positioned himself between detention center deputies and Norman’s bunk, repeatedly glancing back to obstruct their view. Norman was later seen leaving the area with an unknown package concealed under his arm. The package was never recovered,” the press release states.
WBRSO Sheriff Jeff Bergeron then ordered a facility-wide shakedown on March 7th in which contraband was recovered, including:
- Crude tattoo devices
- Improvised weapons (wire shanks)
- Miscellaneous homemade charging cables
- Suspected loose tobacco
- Various papers and “greeting cards” soaked in an unknown substance, some of which tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids
- Various prescription medications issued by the detention center’s medical department
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