Bowie County is reporting the death of an inmate being held in the Bi-State Jail in downtown Texarkana. All indications are that the inmate took his own life, but the Texas Rangers have been called in to investigate.
Press Release:
On July 6, 2019 Bowie County Deputies Norman Alexander and Ed Steger were dispatched to the Bi-State Jail to assist Life Net personnel. When they arrived, they spoke with a corrections officer who informed them that another inmate had reported that inmate Michael Rodden was hanging in his cell. This corrections officer along with nursing staff entered the cell and administered CPR until Life Net personnel arrived. These attempts to revive Mr. Rodden were unsuccessful. There was nothing found during the initial investigation that indicates Mr. Rodden’s death was anything other than self-inflicted. Mr. Rodden was being held in the Bi-State Jail for a Bond Surrender on Possession of a Controlled Substance Over One Gram and Under Four Grams, a new charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance Over One Gram and Under Four Grams, and Failure to Identify. The Texas Rangers were called to conduct the investigation into Mr. Rodden’s death and Mr. Rodden’s body has been sent off for an autopsy.
Press Release Prepared by :Chief Deputy Jeff Neal
