Wilton Manors Man Commits Suicide in Police Custody

Gary Don O'Neal, a 43-year-old man arrested Tuesday night on disorderly conduct charges, hanged himself in a Wilton Manors holding cell while he awaited transfer to the Broward Sheriff's Office Main Jail.From the release just issued by the Wilton Manors Police Department, it's not clear when O'Neal was found dead...

By Thomas Francis

December 2, 2009

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Gary Don O'Neal, a 43-year-old man arrested Tuesday night on disorderly conduct charges, hanged himself in a Wilton Manors holding cell while he awaited transfer to the Broward Sheriff's Office Main Jail.

From the release just issued by the Wilton Manors Police Department, it's not clear when O'Neal was found dead -- just that he was discovered during "periodic well-being checks."

After the jump, the circumstances that led to O'Neal's arrest.

From the release:

On December 1, 2009 at 9:45pm Wilton Manors Police responded to reports of a male causing a disturbance in the Palm Gardens Apartment Complex in the 2700 block of North Andrews Avenue. Residents said the male was yelling racial obscenities and beating on their doors challenging people to fight. When Police arrived they found the male who was still causing a disturbance.

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