Death investigation underway after violent inmates dies at Central Florida jail

The death of a registered sex predator is being investigated by the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Eric Nelson was taken into custody by the Lakeland Police Department after they responded to a report of a person running away from a fast food restaurant.

A baggie with a substance that tested positive for meth was found in Nelson's backpack by the officer who caught up to him.

Nelson said he used the needles to shoot meth. He was arrested and charged with possession of drugs.

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Nelson cursed at the jail and nursing staff after he was taken to the processing center.

Nelson said that he had not slept in five days and that he needed to prove himself.

He appeared to be under the influence of illegal narcotics and was placed in a private holding where he became enraged and kicked the cell door.

The medical staff decided that he would need to be placed in the medical dorm on suicide watch because of his violent behavior.

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Nelson was supposed to be put on suicide watch at the South County Jail.

The sheriff's office said in a news release that Nelson punched a deputy twice in the face after he arrived at the jail.

The inmate continued to fight and resist the deputy after they used the chemical agent spray.

Nelson was taken to a cell where he was placed on the floor in order to remove the handcuffs. The news release said that he wasn't breathing as he was getting ready to go.

The driver left the road and crashed into a construction site.

Nelson was taken to the hospital where he died.

Nelson has a long criminal history that includes rape, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, failure of a sex offender to report name or residence change, and drug possession.

The incident is being investigated by the 10th Judicial Circuit Officer-Involved Deadly Incident Task Force, an internal investigation by the PCSO Administrative Investigations Unit, and an independent investigation by the Florida State Attorney's Office.

The manner and cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner.

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