Woman dies after swallowing plastic bag

LIVE OAK, Fla. — A Jacksonville Beach woman died after swallowing a plastic bag prior to an arrest on Monday.

According to Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, 53-year-old Sharon Elizabeth Watkins was brought in for booking at the Suwannee County Jail following an arrest for possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia by the Live Oak Police Department.

According to LOPD, Watkins complained about breathing problems once she arrived at the jail and stated she was chocking.

The report states the jail nurse was called but Watkins collapsed and did not appear to be breathing.

CPR was initiated and Suwannee Fire Rescue was notified. Watkins was transported to Shands Live Oak Regional Medical Center.

Sheriff Sam St. John said the autopsy revealed Watkins suffocated due to a plastic bag, with a substance in it, that she swallowed.

The report states LOPD pulled Watkins over Monday at 12:21 p.m. after receiving a call about a driver driving erratically.

The report states Watkins appeared jittery and was unable to stop moving.

According to the report, LOPD searched the vehicle and found a purse containing several pieces of a brillo pad that had been torn apart and a glass stem on the ground, where Watkins had dropped her belongings, when exiting the vehicle.

The report states the glass stem contained trace amounts of cocaine.

According to LOPD, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the death.

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