TRUMBULL COUNTY Sheriff's crew probes death of inmate at jail

There were no signs of foul play, sheriff's officials said.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The Trumbull County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of a 38-year-old inmate at the county jail.
John Joseph Clacko, of Dearborn Street, Girard, was found dead in his cell around 7:35 a.m. Wednesday, said Ernie Cook, chief of operations for the department. Clacko did not share a cell, officials said.
A guard discovered Clacko had died when they were unable to wake him, Cook said.
"Right now we do not know what caused his death," Cook said. "We immediately secured the cell and the coroner's office was notified."
There were no signs of foul play, sheriff officials said.
"Everything appeared normal," Sheriff Thomas Altiere said.
Autopsy results
An autopsy was performed Wednesday morning and preliminary results indicated no evidence of "any trauma or any life-threatening disease," Cook said.
The coroner's office will make a final ruling after receiving results from toxicology and microbacteria tests, Cook said.
The sheriff said he has no reason to believe that Clacko had any type of contagious disease.
Clacko was serving a 60-day sentence for a conviction on a driving-under-suspension charge. According to jail records, Liberty police filed the charge against Clacko.
He began serving his sentence May 26 and was set to be released July 25, jail records state.
He seemed fine
"As far as we know he had no complaints Tuesday and seemed to be fine," Cook said. He added that Clacko did not have any disciplinary problems while incarcerated.
Clacko was a trusty at the jail, which meant he had more freedom than other inmates. As a trusty he would assist in the kitchen or wash patrol cars, officials said.
sinkovich@vindy.com