NEWTON — An inmate was found unresponsive in the Jasper county Jail last night and authorities are now investigating the cause.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office says that at around 12:25am on Thursday morning, Jasper County Jail officers found an inmate unresponsive in their single-occupancy cell. Authorities say that the officers provided immediate medical care to the inmate and Newton Fire Department paramedics responded to the jail, where they provided their assistance with treatment. The inmate was eventually flown to a Des Moines area hospital, where they remain in critical condition.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office says that they have requested the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to conduct an investigation into the circumstances that caused the inmate to become unresponsive, and the investigation is ongoing.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office says they will not be releasing any other information at this time.