Inmate's death at Oklahoma County Jail ruled a homicide

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — The August death of an inmate at the Oklahoma County Jail has been ruled a homicide.

The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office reports that Mitchell Willis died August 18 after his spine was fractured. Contributing factors to Willis' death are listed as acute PCP toxicity, hypertensive and heart disease.

Willis reportedly resisted arrest and was combative with officers and made "homicidal and suicidal" comments which led jail staff to place him in a cell by himself on suicide watch.

Soon after he was placed in the cell, staff attempted to remove his pants for his own safety and Willis was being combative. A guard placed his knee on Willis' back and his pants were removed. Fifteen minutes later he was found unresponsive on the floor of the cell.