Tri-Cities suspect dies after collapsing being booked at Franklin County jail

Investigators are trying to determine why a 57-year-old man collapsed while he was being booked into the Franklin County jail this week.

Thomas D. Franklin was being booked in on out-of-state warrants Tuesday afternoon when he collapsed, Sheriff Jim Raymond told the Herald.

Medical staff at the jail and Pasco paramedics immediately tried to help him.

He was rushed to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland but died at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.

The sheriff’s office is compiling information to send to the county’s risk manager and the county attorneys.

Franklin County Coroner Curtis McGary said an autopsy is planned for Tuesday in Snohomish County where the pathologist is based. The cause of his death is pending, but there were no obvious wounds, said McGary.

Records show Franklin had previous convictions for drug possession.

This story was originally published February 25, 2022 at 5:00 AM.