An inmate from the Clarke County Jail died Monday at H.C. Watkins Hospital in Quitman.

Sheriff Todd Kemp said the man, 34-year-old Kenneth McGowan of Enterprise, had been arrested earlier in the day on a warrant for probation violation relating to charges of non-payment of child support and possession of a controlled substance.

Kemp said McGowan exhibited some strange behavior. Kemp says he feels it may have been drug-induced. In a matter of minutes, Kemp said McGowan's breathing became shallow.

Kemp said paramedics were called and McGowan was rushed to the H.C. Watkins Hospital in Quitman. Kemp says hospital personnel attempted to revive McGowan for 45 minutes but they were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead around 6 p.m. Monday.

Officials are waiting for the preliminary autopsy results to determine the cause of death. They say toxicology tests will be conducted to determine if
there were any substances in his system at the time of death.

Sheriff Kemp said he wasn't prepared for this type of situation and he called it unfortunate.

"My job is to serve people and bring individuals before the court and you never expect anything like this to happen," Kemp said.

Kemp said rumors that a stun gun was used on McGowan and that he was beaten to death are untrue.

"I knew this gentleman. I know his whole family. I knew his father," said Kemp. "We have no reason."

The death marks the third time in the last two years that a person in custody of the Clarke County Sheriff's Office has died. In August of 2006, Andre mason died after struggling with officers on Highway 45. And that next month, Doris Vann, a murder suspect, died after an apparent asthma attack.