May 29, 2020
PORT ORCHARD – The Kitsap Critical Incident Response Team (KCIRT) investigation into the death of a Kitsap County Jail inmate hospitalized after a physical altercation continues, pending a medical examiner’s report.
Sean Michael Howell, 28 had been arrested by the Bremerton Police Department on Friday, May 8, 2020, and booked in Kitsap County Jail for First-Degree Murder. On Saturday, May 9, 2020, at around 10:30 a.m., Kitsap County Corrections Officers responded to an incident involving Howell, who was housed in a crisis cell attempting to tamper with the cell’s sprinkler system. Corrections officers entered Howell’s cell and attempted to restrain him with the intention of moving him to a different cell. Howell began to violently resist, resulting in Howell and one corrections officer being injured and transported to the hospital. The corrections officer was treated and released. Howell died the morning of Friday, May 15, 2020.
KCIRT continues to investigate the specifics of the altercation which led to Howell’s hospitalization. The cause of Howell’s death remains unknown as the Kitsap County Coroner’s Office continues its investigation.
The incident remains under investigation and is being investigated by KCIRT, with the Washington State Patrol as the lead investigating agency.
Additional details regarding the incident will be released as the investigation continues. The Kitsap County Coroner’s Office is investigating the cause of Howell’s death. Any inquiries into the homicide case are to be directed to the Bremerton Police Department.
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