PITTSBURG COUNTY, Okla. – The son of the Pittsburg County sheriff, who is also running in the state senate race, unexpectedly died not long before the polls closed.
According to McAlester police, Jaelon Kerns, 28, was arrested during a traffic stop on Tuesday around 2:45 p.m. He was booked into Pittsburg County Jail on drug related complaints.
Kerns’ father, Joel Kerns, is running for state senate for district 7 and is currently the Pittsburg County sheriff. Joel Kerns was reportedly in the process of bonding his son out of jail when Jaelon Kerns fell ill.
Not long after, reports the McAlester police, he was taken to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
The cause of death for Jaelon Kerns has not been confirmed.
There was another person reportedly in the vehicle during the traffic stop. Todd Lewis, 46, is said to still be in custody but has not been reported as exhibiting symptoms that he is sick.
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