Update: New Info Released on Death of Venango County Jail Inmate

| November 20, 2017

FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – Additional information has been released on the death of a Venango County Jail inmate.

Venango County Coroner Christina Rugh said 42-year-old Scott Strawbridge, of Franklin, died around 8:30 p.m. on Friday.

Rugh said Strawbridge’s death is being investigated as a suicide and referred further questions to Shawn White, Venango County District Attorney.

A representative of the Venango County Jail also referred exploreVenango.com to White’s office.

Franklin Police Department told explorevenango.com the incident was under investigation, and no information was being released.

Calls to White’s office were not immediately returned.

The case remains under investigation.

Details of Strawbridge’s Arrest

According to court documents, the Franklin Police Department filed criminal charges against 42-year-old Scott Edward Strawbridge, of Franklin.

According to the criminal complaint, at 9:24 a.m. on Thursday, November 16, Franklin Police Patrolman James Harrah responded to a residence on Old Mercer Road for a report of a domestic altercation between a woman and Strawbridge

The woman had fled the residence and went to a relative’s house. She told a family member that Strawbridge was cooking meth in the house, the complaint indicates.

When police officers spoke with the victim, she told them that Strawbridge hit her in the face, covered her nose and mouth to limit her breathing, and choked her several times and threatened to kill her if she didn’t do what he told her to, the complaint states.

The victim also told police Strawbridge went to the store the other day and bought cold pills and batteries, which is consistent with meth manufacturing, according to the complaint.

Another person also told officers that Strawbridge was cooking meth in the house and that she had seen plastic bottles with white residue at the bottom and could smell a chemical odor coming from a spare room, the complaint indicates.

Police saw cold medicine in baggies and Coleman fuel in the kitchen, which is also indicative of meth making, the complaint continues.

According to the complaint, Strawbridge was placed under arrest for outstanding warrants and domestic violence.

Members of the Pennsylvania Clandestine Lab Response Team found multiple items of drug-manufacturing paraphernalia as well as suspected methamphetamine and heroin, the complaint states.

Strawbridge was arraigned and jailed on Thursday night in District Judge Matthew Kirtland’s office on several charges that included terroristic threats, simple assault, operating a meth lab, and drug possession.


Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.

Category: Uncategorized