June 23—CUMBERLAND — Maryland State Police are investigating the death of a state prison inmate at Western Correctional Institution in Cresaptown.
Ralph Ruark, 80, was pronounced dead by emergency medical services personnel, police said. He was a state prison inmate serving time at the maximum security facility. Ruark was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore to determine the cause and manner of death.
Yesterday at 4:10 p.m., the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit was contacted by investigators from the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Internal Investigative Unit regarding an inmate death that occurred shortly before 3:30 p.m.
The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit is leading the investigation. Assistance is being provided by State Police crime scene technicians and investigators from the DPSCS Internal Investigative Unit. Once completed, the investigation will be submitted to the Allegany County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.
