A FORENSIC pathologist will need to determine whether a woman whose body was discovered in a Maitland police cell only hours after being arrested, had died from her level of intoxication.

The woman, 36, had been “detained” by officers after they found her walking in and out of traffic on Wollombi Road at Cessnock about 12.45am on Tuesday after being called to investigate by concerned motorists.

The officers took her back to Maitland police station where she was placed in a holding cell before her body was discovered about 6am.

It is understood there has been no evidence discovered to support anything suspicious, including injuries which could suggest foul play or the woman committing self-harm inside the cell.

An autopsy would be needed to confirm whether her intoxicated state had contributed to her death, while toxicology tests would help determine whether the known drug user was under the influence of illicit substances and alcohol.

A critical incident investigation, set up as part of normal police protocols regarding deaths in custody, was being headed by Newcastle City detectives and would be subjected to an independent review.

They were working closely with the office of the state coroner.

Police released a short statement on the death on Tuesday, confirming the woman had been “detained” after appearing to be intoxicated and taken back to the Maitland holding cells.

She did not live in Cessnock, with investigators attempting to piece together her movements before she was discovered walking along on Wollombi Road.

Within five hours of being taken to Maitland police station, she was dead, found by police officers in a cell fitted with closed circuit television cameras.

“The welfare of the police officers has been addressed and they are being supported,’’ the police statement said.

“The woman's family has been notified and our thoughts and condolences go out to the family.’’

The death was the second critical incident investigation set up across the Hunter in seven hours, after a man who had been taken for psychiatric assessment at the Calvary Mater Hospital was critically injured when he jumped from an elevated driveway.

Lake Macquarie detectives were investigating how the man, 30, was able to run through an open security door at the Waratah hospital before jumping over a railing and landing on concrete about 15 metres below.

The man, who had been escorted to the hospital by police, suffered critical head and internal injuries.

His condition was not known on Tuesday night.

UPDATE, 2.45pm:

A WOMAN has been found dead inside a police station cell about five hours after being arrested in an intoxicated state walking along a Coalfields road.

The body of the woman, 36, was discovered inside a holding cell at Maitland police station about 6am on Tuesday.

Police said in a statement said the woman had been placed inside the cell after being “detained” when she was found wandering along Wollombi Road at Cessnock about 12.45am.

In line with police protocol, a critical incident investigation has been launched to look into the circumstances surrounding the death in custody.

Newcastle City detectives are leading the independent review, police said.

“All information will be provided to the Coroner who will determine the cause of death and make any findings about the events leading to the woman’s death,’’ the statement said.

“The welfare of the police officers has been addressed and they are being supported.

“The woman's family has been notified and our thoughts and condolences go out to the family.’’

EARLIER:

POLICE have launched a critical incident investigation after a woman was found dead in a cell at Maitland police station.

It is understood the woman, who was arrested overnight, was found dead on Tuesday morning.

In line with normal police protocol, another local area command has taken over the investigation, with Newcastle detectives now in charge.

A NSW Ambulance spokesman confirmed that paramedics had been sent to a premises on Caroline Place, the street Maitland Police Station sits on, before 6am on Tuesday. 

Paramedics were called to a person in medical distress, but the spokesman said he could not give any more information in relation to the incident and referred all further enquiries to NSW Police.

More to come