Howard County police are investigating the death of a 43-year-old Bowie man Friday at the Central Booking Facility in Jessup after he had been charged Thursday with sexual abuse of a minor.

Thomas Edward Brookhyser was taken Thursday to central booking and processed on an arrest warrant on charges of sex abuse of a minor, second-degree assault, and second- and third-degree sex offenses.

After his initial appearance with the District Court Commissioner, Brookhyser was checked by a correctional officer at around 7 p.m. and again around 7:30 p.m. when the officer found him on the floor hanging by his shirt from a handicap grab bar near the toilet in the cell, police said.

Brookhyser was taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he was pronounced dead Friday.

As part of the intake process, correctional staff performed a suicide screening, but police said there were no indicators for suicide, nor did Brookhyser's behavior did not alert staff. Police said there is no evidence of foul play.

jkanderson@baltsun.com