Man dies in St. Louis County Jail

St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office Logo (Gordon Ramsay)

DULUTH, Minn. – An inmate in the St. Louis County jail has died.  The St. Louis County Sherriff’s Office reports on January 27, 2026, at approximately 1:05 a.m., a correctional officer conducted a welfare check on 35-year-old Darrin John Tiessen.

The officer found Tiessen unresponsive in a single-occupancy cell.

The Sheriff’s Office says, “Staff immediately initiated lifesaving measures, including CPR and use of an AED and were able to obtain a heartbeat. EMS responded, and Mr. Tiessen was transported to Aspirus St. Lukes Hospital for advanced medical care.”  Tiessen did not regain consciousness and was pronounced deceased on January 30, 2026.

Tiessen was booked into the jail on January 25, 2026 for an active arrest warrant for failure to appear in court.

At the request of the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is conducting an independent investigation to ensure transparency and avoid any potential conflict of interest.