Authorities identify dead inmate at Charleston County jail

Authorities have identified the Charleston County jail inmate who died this morning as 48-year-old Keith Rhue of North Charleston.

An autopsy was performed, but the cause of Rhue’s death is still pending, Deputy Coroner Kimberly Rhoton said.

Rhue was awaiting trial in connection with an armed robbery and police chase last year.

North Charleston police said Rhue was trying to make a getaway on Sept. 2, 2011, when he crashed into two vehicles by driving into oncoming traffic on Rivers Avenue near the U.S. Highway 52 connector. He injured himself and the driver of another car, a 59-year-old Moncks Corner woman.

Rhue had been jailed since that time on charges of armed robbery, failure to stop for blue lights and siren and first-degree assault and battery, according to court records.

Sheriff’s Maj. Jim Brady said the inmate was discovered unresponsive around 4 a.m. Monday. He was rushed to the jail’s medical facility and then to Medical University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He apparently suffered a seizure before being transported to the hospital. Brady did not immediately have information on the inmate’s age and charges,

The sheriff’s office called in SLED to investigate, which is standard procedure in the event of an inmate death.

Check back with postandcourier.com for more on this story as it becomes available.