STK police car

A Pima County jail inmate was found dead in his cell Tuesday morning.

At 9:25 a.m., a doctor responded to a housing unit at the jail to do a follow-up on Yunan Mohammed Altib Tutu, 26, after corrections officers said that he was not eating. Tutu was found unresponsive in his cell and was pronounced dead, a news release from the sheriff’s department said.

Detectives found no signs of trauma and no suspicious circumstances. The cause of death is unknown at this time, the news release said.

Tutu was booked into the jail on July 10 on suspicion of burglary and multiple warrants.

On Oct. 10, the court found Tutu unable to understand the nature of the proceedings and unable to assist counsel in his defense and was deemed incompetent, Pima County Superior Court records say.

The court also found that there was substantial probability that Tutu could be restored to competency within the time frame permitted under Arizona law, court records say.

As a result of the findings, it was ordered that Tutu commit to the in-custody Pima County Restoration to Competency Program so he could receive treatment. It was also ordered that Tutu be held at the jail until he had been restored to competency or it was determined to be non-restorable, court records say.

A review hearing for Tutu was set for Feb. 15.

Despite perceptions of rising crime, theft has become far less common in recent years than it used to be. However, there are still hotspots where break-ins and burglaries are far more common than the typical American neighborhood.


Become a #ThisIsTucson member! Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. Become a member today.

Jamie Donnelly covers breaking news for the Arizona Daily Star. Contact her via e-mail at jdonnelly@tucson.com