The Maine State Police will investigate the circumstances behind the death of a Saco man who died Sunday morning while in custody at the York County Jail in Alfred.

Jeffrey Andrew Noonan, 49, of Saco died shortly after 6:30 a.m. after being found in medical distress at the jail, according to a press release from the York County Sheriff’s Office.

Under protocols established by the Maine Attorney General’s Office, the state police must handle the investigation into Noonan’s death.

“We investigate all deaths at all the prisons in Maine whether it be at the state or county levels,” Stephen McCausland, a state police spokesman, said Sunday night. McCausland said the state averages about six inmate death investigations each year.

Noonan was arrested Jan. 9 on a warrant for failing to appear in court on a charge of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.

On Saturday he was taken by York County corrections officers for medical treatment and returned to the jail later that day. He was being checked regularly when he was found in medical distress at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, the sheriff’s office said.

Jail medical staff and rescue units from the Alfred Fire and Rescue Department responded. Noonan did not respond to treatment.

McCausland said there does not appear to be anything suspicious about Noonan’s death.

Beth Quimby can be reached at 791-6363 or at:

bquimby@pressherald.com

Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com