According to Sheriff Mark Melton, on 06/22/24, a deputy with the Appling County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the Toombs County Detention Center to transport Jessica Cruz, a female detainee with an outstanding Superior Court warrant for Appling County. The deputy transported the detainee to the Appling Healthcare System to be medically cleared before arriving at the Appling County Detention Center.

Once she was medically cleared, Ms. Cruz was transported to the Appling County Detention Center to be processed and detained. Shortly after arriving at the Detention Center, Ms. Cruz became unconscious and unresponsive.

EMS was dispatched to the Detention Center while detention center personnel began CPR and other life-saving measures. Ms. Cruz was transported back to Appling Healthcare and medical staff determined Ms. Cruz had ingested an illegal substance. She was then airlifted to a Jacksonville hospital for further treatment.