Inmate hangs himself in Newport jail, police say

A man arrested on suspicion of spousal battery apparently hanged himself within hours of being booked into the Newport Beach city jail on Saturday.

William Robert Wedgeworth, 43, was found dead by a custodial officer around 10 p.m. He had been booked earlier in the day at 3:40 p.m. on suspicion of spousal battery, Lt. Bill Hartford said.

Attempts to resuscitate him by paramedics were unsuccessful. Wedgeworth was pronounced dead at the scene, Hartford said.

Hartford was unable to say whether Wedgeworth had any prior arrests.

Information about what type of cell Wedgeworth was in or if he was alone is also being withheld pending full investigation by the Orange County district attorney’s office.

— Sarah Peters