Tahlequah Inmate Found Dead In His Cell posted 11:57 am Wed March 12, 2008 - Tahlequah (http://cfc.ktul. com/mainsearch. cfm?k=^inmate found dead^&ref=nwsstory)

A former Muskogee County sheriff's deputy and a candidate for sheriff in 2000 has died in the Tahlequah City Jail.

Tahlequah Jail Administrator Brad Robertson says 52-year-old David Meeks was found slumped in his cell about 8 p.m. Tuesday and attempts to resuscitate him failed.

Robertson says Meeks was arrested Tuesday afternoon at a Tahlequah hospital for public intoxication and was also believed to be under the influence of prescription drugs.

His body has been taken to the state medical examiner's office for an autopsy.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is assisting in the investigation.