Officials in the eastern U.S. state of Maryland are investigating the
death of a high-profile prisoner detained on suspicion of killing a
police officer.
Federal officials are investigating possible
civil rights violations in the death of 19-year-old Ronnie White, who
was found strangled in his maximum-security cell in the town of Upper
Marlboro on Sunday.
Prison officials said he had been
separated from other inmates. Seven guards and an undisclosed number
of supervisors had access to him. Officials are also investigating
whether anyone from outside the prison system had access to him.
The
head of the Prince George's county government, Jack Johnson, has said
police are not suspected in the prisoner's death. Johnson told a news
conference Monday that society will fall apart if there is vigilante
justice.
White was charged with first degree murder in the death
of a police officer Friday. The policeman was run over and killed by a
truck allegedly driven by White.
The attorney for White's family said his relatives were not informed of White's death until hours later.
The
corrections facility where White was held has had other problems
recently, including criminal actions by guards and the disappearance of
guns from the armory.
Prince George's County is just outside Washington, D.C.