ALFRED — Maine State Police are investigating the death on Sunday of an inmate at York County Jail.

Jeffrey Andrew Noonan, 49, of Saco, had been in custody since Jan. 9, when he was arrested by court security personnel on a warrant for allegedly failing to appear on a charge of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.

According to a statement released by York County Chief Deputy Bill King, on Saturday, Noonan was taken for medical treatment by corrections staff and returned to the jail later that day. The news release did not specify whether the medical treatment the inmate received was at a hospital or other facility, nor was the malady for which he was treated released.

“Noonan was being checked regularly and was found in medical distress at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12,” said King.

He said jail medical staff responded, as did Alfred Rescue.

“Noonan was unresponsive and not transported to the hospital by the rescue unit,” King said.

York County Jail contracts for its medical services with Correct Care Solutions and medical personnel are assigned to the jail 24 hours a day, seven days a week, King said.

Maine State Police were notified by jail officials in accordance with death investigation protocol as mandated by the Maine Attorney General’s Office. The Maine Department of Corrections was also notified.

According to protocols prescribed by the Office of the Attorney General, the death of an individual in custody, regardless of the likely cause, manner and circumstances, is investigated by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the criminal investigation division and the Department of Corrections.

In addition to the investigation into the death itself, the corrections department examines the operational practices, policies and procedures to determine compliance with required standards, according to the protocol.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.