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Sheriff Looking Forward To FBI Findings In Macomb County Jail Death Case

MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ/AP) - The Macomb County Sheriff says the FBI is reviewing circumstances surrounding the death of a man who was sent to jail for a driving offense.

Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said in a statement he met Monday with the FBI about the case.

"I promote transparency within my office and look forward to the findings of the FBI," said Wickersham. "Any death that occurs in the Macomb County Jail is tragic, not only to the family of the deceased, but to the men and women of the Sheriff's Office who oversee the care and custody of our 1200 inmates daily. Due to the current lawsuit, I am unable to comment on the in-custody death."

A pending federal lawsuit says 32-year-old David Stojcevski suffered serious withdrawals from drug use and died after serving 16 days of a 30-day careless driving sentence in June of last year. He lost 50 pounds during that time, and video shows him hallucinating in his cell, twitching and shaking with seizures.

Then with the cameras rolling in the cell where he was allegedly on suicide watch, he died — alone, visibly breathing his last before medical personnel rush in from outside the glass and try in vain to resuscitate him.

[Video Surfaces Showing Inmate Slowly Dying In Macomb County Jail While Under Surveillance]

"This is shameful, substantial and unconscionable neglect," said Robert Ihrie, senior partner at the firm handling the wrongful death suit seeking a "substantial amount" from Macomb County.

Ihrie says Stojcevski died of benzodiazepine withdrawal, brought on by lack of his prescribed methadone treatment.

Wickersham says Tuesday he provided the FBI with investigation results and about 240 hours of in-cell video, adding that he and his office will have no further comment on the case of the FBI review.

The county has said it's confident it will win the case.

The Associated Press left a message seeking comment with the FBI.

TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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