Man Attempts Suicide in Booking Cage
 
COVINGTON – A 26 year old Slidell area man unsuccessfully attempted to commit suicide while being booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail early this morning, Sheriff Jack Strain announced today.
 
Michael Williams (788 Pine Tree St, Slidell – DOB: 5/1/84) was brought to the jail at approximately 1:30 AM this morning, and was in the process of being booked for domestic abuse battery and contempt of court (failure to appear on possession of alcohol in a motor vehicle).
 
Because Williams was in one of the booking cages, deputies were within a few feet of him at the time.  Deputies were able to enter the cage and successfully stop the attempt.
 
The incident occurred within three minutes of Williams being placed in the cage.
 
Williams was seen by jail medical personnel and was transported to St. Tammany Parish Hospital for evaluation.  He was returned to the jail today and remains on suicide watch.
 
Additional details about the method of the attempted suicide are being withheld while the incident is under investigation.