Contact: Lt Joel Roon - 616.632.6204
Email: joel.roon@kentcountymi.gov
Supervisor Approval:  Capt. Thorne
Incident Type: Death Investigation

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich:  Yesterday, at approximately 8:55 PM, a Kent County Corrections Deputy discovered an inmate in his cell in medical distress following an apparent suicide attempt.  Despite life saving measures by both correctional and medical personnel, Rafael Torres-Mendoza died at approximately 9:44 PM.

Torres-Mendoza had been incarcerated at the Kent County Correctional Facility since September 18, 2019 and was awaiting trial on charges of Third Degree Arson, Second Degree Arson, and OWI 3^rd.  The case remains under investigation by the Kent County Medical Examiner and Kent County Sheriff's Office detectives.