June 5, 2020
PORT ORCHARD – The Kitsap Critical Incident Response Team (KCIRT) investigation into the death of Sean Michael Howell remains ongoing, pending a medical examiner’s report.
There is no new information to report at this time. The Kitsap County Coroner’s Office is waiting for toxicology results – which may take several weeks to receive – before determining the cause of Howell’s death.
Howell, 28, had been arrested by the Bremerton Police Department on Friday, May 8, 2020, and booked into the 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.
The incident 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. Any inquiries into the homicide case are to be directed to the Bremerton Police Department.
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