GUILDERLAND — A man who was arrested last Thursday for two attempted burglaries was found dead in his cell in Albany County’s jail on Saturday.

Adam Rappaport, 29, and homeless, was arrested by the Guilderland Police Department on Oct. 16, and was found unconscious and unresponsive in his cell at approximately 4:20 p.m. on Oct. 18, according to a release from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.

The cause of death was reported as asphyxia due to self-inflicted strangulation.

Rappaport attempted to enter two homes in Guilderland, one on Church Road and one on Norman Road, on Monday, Oct. 13, according to Guilderland Police.

He was arrested, after an investigation, on Thursday, and was arraigned in Guilderland Town Court and sent to Albany County’s jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Captain Curtis Cox, of the Guilderland Police Department, said he could not release any details about the circumstances leading to Rappaport’s arrest.

On Oct. 16, the Guilderland Police had sent out two press notices — the first notice of an arrest included an address for him. The second notice said that Rappaport’s father had called “to advise that an address listed in the press release is the only permanent address that Adam had. Adam provided this at the time of his arrest. He has had no permanent place to live in about five years.”

Craig Apple, Albany County’s sheriff, said that Rappaport was “in reception” when he hung himself in his cell.

Reception, said Apple, means that Rappaport was in between intake and classification, and was waiting in his cell for medical screening.

“He was being called down for the screening and wasn’t responding,” said Apple. “That is when someone went to his cell to check on him.”

Officers, along with medical staff, began to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and Colonie emergency medical services transported Rappaport to Albany Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

“There is a screening that goes on during intake that is supposed to help determine if there is a risk for self-harm,” said Apple. “But, you can ask all the right questions, and, if someone doesn’t answer truthfully…” he trailed off.

People are often at their lowest point when they are sent to jail, Apple said, and usually it serves as a wake-up call.

“But, unfortunately, sometimes that is not the case and something like this happens,” said Apple. “It is tragic, but it happens.”

He estimated that there is approximately one suicide per year in Albany County’s jail.