LEWIS COUNTY, Wash. – A 51-year-old woman who died at the Lewis County Jail earlier this week has been identified as the Hoodsport resident who was arrested in connection with a police pursuit and standoff on 1-5 south of Centralia earlier in the month.
Heidi R. Presson died in jail Monday after she was found unresponsive in her cell at about 1:40 p.m., according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
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Presson had recently been taken into custody following an hours-long standoff that shut down Interstate 5 in Lewis County.
Authorities said the incident began on April 2 when Presson fled law enforcement in Mason and Thurston counties, leading to a pursuit that ended near the U.S. 12 interchange.
Troopers used spike strips to stop the vehicle near milepost 69, where Presson allegedly barricaded herself inside, prompting authorities to close all lanes of I-5 in both directions for several hours.
The Washington State Patrol’s SWAT team arrived around 8:30 p.m., and officers were seen giving commands to the suspect to exit the vehicle. Presson was eventually apprehended by law enforcement.
At the time of her death, Presson was booked into the Lewis County jail facing charges that included felony eluding, reckless driving, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.
Upon finding her unresponsive, the LCSO said jail medical staff attempted lifesaving measures until emergency responders arrived, but Presson could not be revived.
On Wednesday, the Lewis County Coroner’s Office formally identified Presson and determined her cause of death to be a “massive bilateral pulmonary embolism, secondary to deep leg vein thrombosis.” The manner of death is pending toxicology results.
The Lewis County Coroner’s Office on Wednesday identified Presson and determined her cause of death to be a “massive bilateral pulmonary embolism, secondary to deep leg vein thrombosis.” The manner of death is pending toxicology results.Officials have not released additional details about the jail death investigation.
ibahagi sa twitter: Woman accused of instigating hours-long I-5 standoff with WSP troopers dies in jail