Authorities are investigating the death of a valley inmate.
52-year-old Ronald Daniel Williams died Wednesday night a few hours after he was arrested by Scottsboro Police.
Just before 5pm, police received a call that Williams was allegedly causing trouble at the Best Value Inn, where he was living.
Police say Williams was drunk and busted out a window in a neighboring room.
"Highly intoxicated, disorderly, verbally abusive towards officers, but he was arrested without any altercation and then taken to the jail," Capt. Ron Latimer.
Police say paramedics were called to the jail to treat Williams for minor cuts and abrasions on his hand where he had broken the glass.
Williams refused to go to the hospital, but otherwise appeared to be in good health. Police say the jailer keeps a close eye on all inmates.
"They're checked every 15 to 20 minutes or so by the jailer, does a cell check, walks through the entire jail, verbally and visually inspects the inmates," said Latimer.
But, by 9pm, about four hours after Williams was arrested, something had gone terribly wrong.
"A jailer found him unresponsive in the cell, he was in the cell alone, called EMS, they responded. Began CPR. He was taken to Highlands Medical Center and pronounced dead at about 9:55pm," said Latimer.
Latimer says there is no indication of foul play, or that Williams committed suicide.
An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of Williams' death.
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