Bryon Rinas

FLORENCE, Ariz. – The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an inmate while in custody at the PCSO Adult Detention Center following an apparent suicide.

On 12-30-2011, at 3:53 p.m. inmate Bryon Lynn Rinas, 52, of San Tan Valley, was discovered during a formal count and security check hanging from a bed sheet that had been removed from his bunk and then tied around his neck and secured to a window inside his housing cell.

Attempts to revive Rinas by PCSO detention and medical staff were unsuccessful. He was transported to Florence Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:45 p.m.

Forty-two minutes prior to the incident, Rinas was last seen during a formal count and security check by detention staff at 3:11 p.m. inside Unit C where he was housed alone.

During the formal count, Rinas did not indicate to PCSO detention staff he wanted to harm himself, nor did he appear to be in distress.

Rinas was in PCSO custody after being arrested on 12-24-2011 on Domestic Assault charges and held on a $7,500 secure bond.

Per PCSO Adult Detention Policy, inmates are checked every 60 minutes or less to verify presence and welfare. If an inmate indicates they wish harm himself/herself, measures are in place to transport that inmate to a specialized unit where they are evaluated and monitored 24 hours.