BOURNE – An investigation is ongoing into the recent death of an inmate at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility.
John Shannon was found to have opiates in his system when he died, but the cause of death remains undetermined.
The investigation is expected to last a couple of months.
Sheriff James Cummings said they are combating a recent uptick of drug activity at the facility, but, he said, his staff works to keep drugs out of the jail, as well as provide medical assistance to inmates with addictions.
Cummings said frequent searches with drug sniffing dogs are conducted to help stop the introduction of drugs into the prison.
Cummings says the investigation into Shannon’s death could last a couple of months.