Oregon county sued after inmate who pleaded for help died in custody
BY TERENCE CULLEN
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, May 9, 2017, 9:04 AM
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Myers died after repeatedly buzzing his cell intercom to ask guards for help. He was brought to a medical detention facility on May 27, 2015, after two fellow inmates brutally beat him, injuring his kidneys and causing head trauma.
The lawsuit, seeking $12 million in damages, claims Myers buzzed his intercom 19 times in a five-hour period asking for help. Surveillance video shows he urinated blood, but guards thought nothing of it. It wasn’t until 1 a.m. on May 28 when guards rushed in — after Myers was slumped over without a heartbeat.
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Staff disregarded "all the obvious and horrific symptoms that were plainly visible on the monitor for over five hours,” his attorney, Matthew D. Kaplan, wrote in the lawsuit, according to the newspaper.
“They basically isolated this guy who they know is hurt and watch him die," he added. "He has to stop breathing for them to finally go into his cell again and check on him.”
Jed Hawk Myers was recorded on video in pain and pleading for help.
(VIA THE OREGONIAN)
One of the inmates in the beating told investigators he pulled Myers from his upper bunk, slamming the ill-fated man’s head on the ground, the Oregonian reported.
He and another prisoner were later convicted for fatally beating Myers, who suffered lacerated kidneys. The two men are serving time for his death.
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Myers, who was serving a short sentence for not properly reporting to his parole officer, was brought to a medical detention center after the incident, according to the Oregonian.
The lawsuit claims guards and medical staff didn’t properly evaluate Myers when he was brought in. Surveillance footage of Myers’ cell showed him urinating blood into his toilet. But supervisor Sgt. Woody Little thought it was a liquid drink or grape jelly.
The Oregonian also reported that the suit takes aim at larger problems in the prison.
Myers' estate is now suing the jail.
(VIA FACEBOOK)
The filing, citing investigators’ interviews with a deputy, claims guards would mute the intercoms of “needy” inmates.
It’s not certain if that was the case with Myers. Thomas O’Donnell, an inmate also in the medical unit, told officials he heard Myers yelling “Help me, Help me!” according to the Oregonian.
"I didn't understand why they didn't take him to the hospital,” he reportedly told investigators.
No one in the jail was punished for Myers’ death, the lawsuit claims.
An attorney for the county didn’t return the Oregonian’s request for comment.