A McCracken County Jail inmate has died, after police say he ingested a quantity of methamphetamine while in custody.
Saturday afternoon, 21-year-old Tyler Cope died at Baptist Health of Paducah of complications from a suspected methamphetamine overdose.
On Friday, May 31, the McCracken County Regional Jail received a tip saying an inmate had possibly smuggled methamphetamine into the jail on Thursday.
After a search by deputies and a police K-9 unit, it was revealed that Craig Battoe, who was initially arrested on burglary offenses on Thursday, smuggled crystal methamphetamine into the jail. It was determined that Battoe transferred the methamphetamine to Tyler Cope. Cope then swallowed the drug to avoid detection. Deputies later discovered Cope was ill and he was transported to an area hospital where he later died due to a suspected drug overdose.
Detectives continued interviews and search warrants were obtained for blood and urine samples from several inmates.
Those arrested were: 28 year-old Craig A. Battoe of Symsonia on trafficking in a 1st degree controlled substance-methamphetamine and promoting contraband-1st degree; 37 year-old Sean M. Colston of Paducah on promoting contraband 1st degree; 27 year-old Glenn T. Thorn JR. of Benton on promoting contraband-1st degree; 40 year-old Christopher McCoy of Louisville on promoting contraband-1st degree; 33 year-old James Jenkins of Paducah on promoting contraband 1st degree; 24 year-old Erik Williams of Wickliffe on promoting contraband 1st degree; 20 year-old Brennen Harmon of Paducah on promoting contraband 1st degree, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The incident remains under investigation by the McCracken County Sheriff's Department, McCracken County Jail, McCracken County Commonwealths Attorneys Office, and now the McCracken County Coroners Office.
An autopsy will be conducted at the Kentucky Medical Examiners Office in Madisonville.
