The daily newspaper reports another jail death:
A 34-year-old man died at the Escambia County Jail on Thursday. The cause of the man’s death was not immediately known. An autopsy may be performed today, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Glenn Austin said. There were no signs of foul play, Austin said. The Sheriff’s Office is withholding the man’s name until his family is notified.
“You hate to see that happen,” Sheriff Ron McNesby said. “It’s sad, but it does happen.”
We shouldn’t rush to judgment on this one incident. However, when taken into the context of all the deaths that have occurred over just the past three years, it’s time we have an independent investigation into the jail operations.
There are three options:
- The Escambia Board of County Commissioners has the ultimate responsibility for the jail. The BOCC can conduct the investigation.
- The State Attorney Bill Eddins can conduct a grand jury investigation, similar to the ones done on pollution a few years ago.
- The U.S. Dept of Justice can step in.
I like option 2.
