Justice Center Jail.JPG
Multnomah County's Justice Center Jail sits across the street from the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in downtown Portland.
(The Oregonian file)
A 28-year-old man died New Year's Eve in his downtown Portland jail cell, according to law enforcement officials.
William Coupchiak was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center Thursday morning at 8:59 a.m. on charges he violated his parole.
More than 12 hours later, at 10:37 p.m. a sheriff's deputy discovered Coupchiak "unresponsive" in his jail during a routine check, according to a press release.
Emergency officials were unable to revive Coupchiak.
According to Sgt. Steve Dangler, Coupchiak's last known address was in Portland, but he was currently homeless.
The cause of death is still uncertain, and county officials expect to know more once results from a toxicology test and autopsy are revealed later this week.
-- Andrew Theen
atheen@oregonian.com
503-294-4026
@cityhallwatch