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A 29-year-old Mississippi man was found dead in his jail cell in Jackson on Sunday morning, Mississippi News Now reports.

The man, identified as Jamal Mallard, was arrested Saturday night for allegedly stealing a lawnmower.

The police report states:

“Mallard was taken to headquarters and charged with petit larceny. He was booked at 3:43 a.m. He was discovered unresponsive around 6 a.m., at which point medical teams were called and he was pronounced dead.”

Mallard’s family believes something happened while he was in police custody and are skeptical about his sudden death. His mother, Nanette Mallard, told Mississippi News Now that she was not able to see Mallard before authorities transported his body.

“I wasn’t allowed to see my child before they carried him out, you know what I’m saying. I want to see my child whole and then I want to examine him for myself. I want to see if there was any bruises on my child because he didn’t leave here like that,” she said.

According to officers, there was no physical evidence of any trauma on Mallard’s body.

AL.com via the Clarion Ledger reports that Mississippi Mayor Tony Yarber said the police department wants to remain “transparent” about Mallard’s death.

An investigation continues.

SOURCE: AL.com, Mississippi News Now, Clarion Ledger | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty

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