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KBI investigating inmate death Saturday at Wyandotte County Detention Center

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of a Wyandotte County Detention Center inmate on Saturday, July 5.

Officials said the inmate — 50-year-old Charles L. Adair, of Kansas City, Kansas — was receiving medical care in the infirmary for a preexisting leg wound around 8:30 p.m.

While being transferred back to his cell, Adair allegedly created a disturbance. He yelled, physically resisted and would not comply with commands, per KBI.

As a result, several Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office deputies handcuffed Adair during the transport to his cell, where he was placed on the lower bunk.

When the deputies tried to remove the cuffs, he continued to resist.

“They gained control, removed the cuffs and left the cell,” KBI said of the sheriff’s deputies.

Just minutes later, around 8:37 p.m., Adair was found unresponsive by medical staff.

Life-saving measures were initiated and EMS personnel were called to the facility, but Adair was declared dead around 9:19 p.m.

KBI was notified of the death around 9:30 p.m. by the sheriff's office.

“KBI agents did not observe any obvious signs of physical injury to Adair resulting from the incident,” KBI said.

Adair was arrested Friday, July 4, for misdemeanor warrants regarding his failure to appear on multiple traffic violations, according to KBI.

The investigation, including an autopsy, remains ongoing.

If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.

Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.