A Charles Mix County deputy sheriff has been cleared of any misconduct by the South Dakota Law Enforcement Standards and Training Commission.
The commission unanimously voted that Jon Werkmeister did not engage in “conduct unbecoming” during the death of a man at the Charles Mix County jail on April 3, 2023.
The man died as a result of methamphetamine toxicity.
Werkmeister, who had brought the man to the jail, stated that the man did not appear different from others who were under the influence of drugs. When checking on the man later, it was suspected that he might have been suffering a seizure as his head was bobbing and his feet had turned purple.
However, Werkmeister did not recall seeing the man’s arm moving. Werkmeister went back on patrol, and another jailer later found the man unresponsive. Despite efforts to resuscitate him, the man was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Since the incident, Werkmeister sought training on his own, and the sheriff implemented new policies and increased inmate checks.
The state’s attorney and the Attorney General’s office previously reviewed the case and decided not to bring criminal charges against Werkmeister. The commission’s decision means that Werkmeister will not face any punishment or have his law enforcement certification revoked.