CLOSE

A man in the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office died Friday after he was found unresponsive in his holding cell at a substation in Cave Creek, according to a Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

Scott McKay, 62, was arrested Friday on suspicion of burglary and violating a restraining order around 1:40 p.m., Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez said.

McKay was taken to the Cave Creek substation and placed in a holding cell while deputies completed booking paperwork, according to Enriquez. 

He was found unresponsive around 4 p.m. and appeared to have died by suicide, Enriquez said. It’s not clear how long McKay was in the cell without supervision.

Deputies attempted to perform lifesaving measures until paramedics arrived. McKay was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Enriquez said. 

As with all in-custody deaths, MCSO will conduct both criminal and administrative investigations of the death before it will ultimately be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

This is the eighth in-custody death reported in Maricopa County so far this year, according to a database maintained by The Arizona Republic. 

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or on Twitter @Mkayackley.

Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2020/09/20/scott-mckay-dies-while-being-held-mcso-substation-cave-creek/5842593002/