BANGOR — The Penobscot County sheriff is defending his decision to tell friend and longtime area activist the Rev. Robert Carlson that he was under investigation by Maine State Police just hours before his suicide.

Sheriff Glenn Ross told the Bangor Daily News on Wednesday he felt compelled to tell Carlson he was under investigation for suspected child abuse because Carlson was on the Penobscot County Jail’s board of visitors and Ross wanted to limit his access to the jail. Carlson was the jail’s chaplain.

Ross denied any ethical breach.

Results of a Waldo County sheriff’s department investigation into Carlson’s death were released Wednesday.

The two knew each other for decades and Ross said he was heartbroken by Carlson’s death.

Carlson jumped to his death off a Bucksport bridge on Nov. 11.

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