BISMARCK (AP) -- Burleigh County officials say a prisoner is dead after apparently hanging himself in his cell.
Steve Little Dog was pronounced dead Sunday at a Bismarck hospital. His death is the second inmate suicide in six months at the Bismarck jail.
Sheriff's Lt. Nick Sevart says the 41-year-old Little Dog was seen standing up during a cell check about 15 minutes before his cell mate called for help about 3:30 a.m.
Little Dog had been jailed on a felony charge of interfering with an emergency phone call.
The county jail can hold 138 prisoners. The last suicide before Little Dog's death was reported Oct. 30, when 48-year-old Kevin Tormey hanged himself in his cell. An investigation found no problems with the staff.
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Sheriff Pat Heinert says his department plans more training to deal with suicide prevention. He says research shows one jail suicide increases the chance of another one.
