Inmate Commits Suicide

TYLER – A Smith County Jail inmate was discovered dead in his cell Wednesday. According to KETK, Sheriff J.B. Smith says Duantes Harrison of Mineola committed suicide Wednesday afternoon. He claimed to be sick and stayed in his cell when the other prisoners went to the roof for recreation. When they returned, they found him hanging from the shower by his bed linens. Sheriff Smith says Harrison had just been sentenced to 25 years for aggravated robbery. Six other charges were pending against him, including possession of drug paraphernalia, credit card abuse, theft, aggravated robbery and forgery. As protocol requires, the sheriff notified both the Texas Rangers and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. An autopsy has been ordered.