Sumter inmate who died Thursday identified by Sumter County coroner

Sumter County Coroner's Office identified the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center inmate who died Thursday as 35-year-old Jeremy Antwan Garrett.

Garrett was pronounced dead at Prisma Health Tuomey, said coroner Robbie Baker, and an autopsy was performed Saturday morning at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

Baker said he would not release the cause of death at this time because the incident is still under investigation.

According to Sumter County Third Judicial Circuit, Garrett, of Wedgefield, was arrested Jan. 8 and charged with first-degree assault and battery.

Magistrate Judge Larry Blanding set a surety bond for $15,000 on Jan. 10, the day Garrett was taken to the hospital.

State Law Enforcement Division is investigating Garrett's death, according to Baker and Ken Bell, public information officer for Sumter County Sheriff's Office.

Bell said the sheriff's office — which now works in connection with the jail after Sumter and Lee county councils granted Sheriff Anthony Dennis control of the facility in 2017 — requests a SLED investigation anytime an inmate dies in custody.

He said the sheriff's office is cooperating with SLED during the investigation.