An inmate at the Cherokee County Detention Center died after suffering a cardiac event. According to Cherokee County Coroner Dr. Jeremy Deaton, on New Year’s Eve Floyd Emergency Medical Service was dispatched to the Detention Center to a “Code in Progress”.  An inmate, Allen Keith Garner, suffered a witnessed medical condition.

Resuscitation efforts were immediately performed by staff of the Cherokee County Corrections Department until Floyd EMS arrived.

Garner was transferred to Floyd-Cherokee Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead by Dr. Deaton. 

After a medicolegal death investigation performed by the Cherokee County Coroner’s Office, the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office, and consultation with the Medical Examiner’s Office in Hunstville, it was determined that he suffered a cardiac event and subsequently died. 

The Etowah County Sherriff’s office was called to investigate, which is standard for any in custody related death.