SEAN LEVERT - LEVERT WAS BOUND AND SHACKLED BEFORE DEATH

LEVERT WAS BOUND AND SHACKLED BEFORE DEATH

LATEST: R+B singer SEAN LEVERT had to be physically restrained by prison guards because he was "out of control" shortly before he collapsed and died. The 39-year-old son of The O'Jays star Eddie Levert collapsed in his cell at Cuyahoga County Jail on Sunday (30Mar08) night and was taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. He was being held behind bars after allegedly failing to pay $80,000 (GBP40,000) in child support to the mother of his kids. Now website TMZ.com is reporting that Levert had been "hallucinating" late on Sunday, and had to be strapped to a restraining chair because prison staff were convinced he posed a danger to himself and others. Jail warden Kevin MCDonough claims Levert co-operated with staff and "went willingly" when he was taken from his cell to have his wrists bound and feet shackled. The Cuyahoga County Coroner has admitted there were no signs of physical trauma on Levert's body and his death is not considered suspicious. He is believed to have suffered from high blood pressure, but jail officials claim they were unaware of any health condition he may have had. They are currently waiting on results from toxicology tests to determine Levert's exact cause of death. Sean's death is the second to hit the Levert family in two years - his brother, R+B legend Gerald Levert, passed away in November 2006, aged 40, following an accidental drug overdose. In a statement released on Monday night (31Mar08), the Levert family says, "There is no song that can capture the loss that we have in our hearts."