Family awaits news in death of detainee

Family members of a detainee who fell ill and died at the state-run Central Booking and Intake Center on Monday said yesterday that they were stunned by the death and are awaiting further information from state prison officials.

James Pugh Jr., 41, of West Baltimore was pronounced dead at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He passed out while waiting to be booked after his arrest on a warrant for violating terms of his probation. He had been there about four hours.

Mark Vernarelli, a public safety spokesman, said that an investigation is in progress. The state medical examiner's office has not completed an autopsy.

James Pugh Sr. said his son reported to his probation officer on Monday, and no one heard from him after his arrest. "They ain't told me nothing," he said. "He was as healthy as he could be when he left my house."