Kent Man Dies After Suicide Attempt in Jail

Portage County authorities are investigating the death of a Kent man who in jail Friday.

Portage County Sheriff David Doak said that Matthew P. Dibease, 29, of 408 Park Avenue, attempted suicide at the Portage County jail after being booked into the jail just before 2 p.m. Friday.

Dibease was taken from the county jail on Infirmary Road to Robinson Memorial Hospital. He died later at the hospital.

Doak said Dibease was in his cell when he attempted suicide. Doak wouldn't say how Dibease tried to kill himself.

"We’re not going to disclose that right now because it’s still under investigation," Doak said.

Dibease was arrested Friday for driving under suspension. Doak said an undetermined amount of time passed between his suicide attempt and when he was discovered in his cell by a jail supervisor.

Doak said Dibease was in a cell pod at the jail that contained multiple cells. The pod was being supervised by a sheriff's deputy, who was inside the pod area with the inmates.

"And they do run periodic checks on them," Doak said. "They’re also required to log those checks."

The sheriff's office is conducting an internal investigation into Dibease's death that could be finished within a week or two following an autopsy that was conducted Monday, Doak said.

"Some of that, it’s going to take a period of time for those autopsy results to come back," he said. "The investigation will remain open until such time we get that back."