Anchorage

Anchorage inmate dies at hospital after medical emergency

An inmate who was yet to be sentenced died at an Anchorage hospital several days after suffering from a medical emergency, officials said this week.

William Olsen Jr., 48, was taken to Alaska Regional Hospital after experiencing an unspecified medical emergency on Nov. 20 at Anchorage Correctional Complex, Alaska Department of Corrections spokeswoman Sarah Gallagher said in a statement Friday.

While waiting for emergency responders, staff at the facility began performing life-saving measures, Gallagher said. After Olsen was taken to the hospital, he received more treatment but wasn’t expected to survive, according to an online report from Alaska State Troopers. He died on Wednesday afternoon.

The 48-year-old had been in custody since Nov. 19 on charges that included theft of services valued between $5 and $50, removal of merchandise valued at $50-plus and entering/remaining on business property in violation of notice, Gallagher said. He had not been sentenced.

Olsen is the eighth inmate to die in the department’s custody this year. His death was not related to COVID-19, Gallagher said.

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