Apparent suicide at D.C. Jail is third in two months

A 53-year-old man awaiting trial on sexual abuse charges was found hanging in his cell at the D.C. Jail on Monday, the third apparent suicide at the facility in the last two months.

Officials found Mike Johnson, of Southwest D.C., hanging in his cell and tried to resuscitate him. He was taken to Prince George’s Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead at 4:20 p.m. Monday. Mr. Johnson had been housed at the jail since Dec. 31. He was arrested on charges of first-degree sex abuse and later indicted on 10 counts, including kidnapping, sexual abuse and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

In July, after two other inmate suicides, the jail announced it was instituting new suicide prevention protocols.
Two other men, also charged with crimes involving sexual abuse, were found dead at the jail this summer.

Paul Mannina, a Department of Labor lawyer, was found with his throat cut June 18. Mannina had a preliminary hearing in court hours earlier in a case in which he was accused of using a stun gun, mace and handcuffs to assault a woman in her home.

Walter Calloway, 42, of Southeast, was found hanging in his cell June 29, a day after he was committed on a felony charge of first-degree child sexual abuse, officials said.