Inmate at parish jail commits suicide

By Erik Sanzenbach
St. Tammany News
Published on Friday, November 20, 2009 9:39 AM CST



St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain issued a press release Thursday afternoon stating that an inmate at the St. Tammany Jail in Covington committed suicide sometime Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

According to the sheriff, the 40-year-old inmate, a Slidell man, was last seen alive in an isolation cell at 11 p.m. Wednesday during a routine check by the guards.

During another check at 4 a.m., guards found the inmate hanging from the ceiling with a bed sheet around his neck.

St. Tammany News will not reveal the inmate’s identity in respect to his family.

Strain said the inmate had been in jail since Oct. 2, and was incarcerated for parole violation, public intimidation, introducing contraband to a penal institution and distribution or possession of a legend drug without a prescription.

The inmate had been put into an isolation cell due to disruptive behavior with other inmates, Strain said, but the inmate was not on a suicide watch.

The sheriff said the inmate’s body was taken to the St. Tammany Coroner’s Office and sheriff’s office investigators are reviewing the incident.


Copyright © 2012 St. Tammany News

Comments

15 comment(s)

    Former employee wrote on Dec 3, 2009 7:33 AM:

    " If the general public knew half of the things that occur inside those walls. I worked there for two years. I watched some ugly and horrible things get covered up. I watched some dirty financial deal go down. I dont fault the deputy who was in charge of this area. he is responsible for keeping track of inmates who have free rein and untrained support staff checking them in and out of K dorm. He also has a runner who is supposed to physically check on these inmates. Jacks money games cost this man his life. "

    free speech wrote on Dec 2, 2009 2:16 PM:

    " Man of God? If it is that bad and you can prove it then I charge you and I challenge you to quit your gripping and file complaints with the FBI and ACLU and other authorities over the current leadership. Stop your whining about how inhumane the conditions are and take action. "

    Telly wrote on Nov 25, 2009 9:25 AM:

    " MPeters, MLloyd, MJones, you 3 must be the same person. Why don't you apply for a job there if you think you can improve the quality of life for these people. They have free food, room & board paid for by me. "

    dasb wrote on Nov 24, 2009 8:56 AM:

    " Many of the inmates are there because of drug addiction. For those who say "oh well", "another one's gone", you need to stop and think about the fact that this is someone's family. Many go through withdrawal in jail with severe physical and emotional effects. There are not enough treatment centers and those that are open have enormous waiting lists. Therefore, people end up in jail and "detox" there. I had a family member there and they are surrounded by so much hopelessness, anxiety, despair, etc. It is really a sad situation. "

    Man of God wrote on Nov 24, 2009 12:35 AM:

    " I am shocked at those that say he did a good thing by Suicide. Instead of being mistreated in that Jail that is a disgusting that no one knows unless they have been there, the man needed rehabilitation....not that Hadies hole!
    As for him hanging himself with a sheet...that is questionable as Solitary is a nothing but cement, freezing temperatures and as I mentioned a wool blanket for 4 hrs if they are lucky. Most in solitary get NO BLANKET AND NO WAY A SHEET!
    They are their own Police and abuse it to the point that it sickens me. "

    tsali wrote on Nov 23, 2009 8:25 AM:

    " really do not understand why some are upset here. to me... this will save my tax dollars for having to fund this fool's life in the legal system. i wish more would follow his lead ;) "

    WHAT wrote on Nov 23, 2009 7:39 AM:

    " I WORKED AT THE JAIL FOR APPORX. 3 YEAR AND DURING THAT TIME PEROID WE HAD 1 SUICIDE, 1 ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, 2 DEATHS NATURAL CAUSES. WHEN I WAS WORKING THERE WE CONDUCTED HEAD COUNTS EVERY 1 TO 2 HOURS. AND YES THERE ARE CAMERAS IN ISOLATION, WHY THE DEPUTY DID NOT NOTICE THIS ON HIS/HER MONITOR IS BEYOND ME. O AND BETTER BELEIVE IT THERE WILL BE AN INVESTIGATION, BUT HEY WHY WOULD THEY FIRE ANYONE?,ISNT THE JAIL SHORTHANDED, I MAEN THEY SQUANDERED MONEY FROM THE COMMISSARY TO FUND THE NEW CONPLEX, O NO DID I JUST SAY THAT.... "

    darla birdsall wrote on Nov 22, 2009 8:27 AM:

    " i understand why he did what he did god knows i had broken neck messed up back and broken foot plus whem i asked for my in haler i was told they'd bring it when they saw me passed out on the floor ,all the problems i had and i was treated terrible ,i was allowed motrin !! so if you want to wonder what happen you';; get a lie from all of them "

    lel410 wrote on Nov 21, 2009 3:48 PM:

    " While I am not going to blame anyone but the prisoner for him committing suicide, I do find it shocking that five hours elapsed before he was checked on again. "

    bigmeanie wrote on Nov 20, 2009 2:27 PM:

    " WOW! Do you think there's a camera at every angle and a cop to watch each of them?
    MLloyd, this "disturbing behavior" of his is not unusually odd. These are PRISONERS, not honor students. Yes, there's going to be fights. This is not cause for a shrink. And just where did this article indicate that the prisoners are mistreated? BTW, male officers are not assigned to watch the female quarters. If you have a problem with Strain, thats fine. But before you all start your professional criminal law careers you might want study up some more. "

    Man of God wrote on Nov 20, 2009 12:06 PM:

    " I am not surprised at all. The inmates are treated as guilty as charged before their first court appearance. To get a guards attention due to medical reasons takes an act of Congress. They are lazy and don't care about the inmates. It's overcrowded and I suspect because of all the tickets, fines and TAXES that are squandered. It's freezing in the Holding areas and they are given blankets for about 4 hrs a night and the rest of the time they are shiverring and neglected. I provide small Bibles for them but wish I could do more. Another suicide! "

    dereks. wrote on Nov 20, 2009 11:23 AM:

    " the more criminals that kill themselves the better. sounds like he was an addict or a pusher. i would've stood their and watched him die. good riddance. "

    MJones wrote on Nov 20, 2009 10:24 AM:

    " I guess the Sheriff and his boys are at it again. They are looking for more money to claim they aren't able to keep up with the inmates in isolation because they are in a finacial crises. The jail should be operating at top notch according to all money spent on upgrades and renovations. First, the money for the escapee's running and now another death...Humm I wonder what ol Jack and his boys will think of next. Pay attention.. and follow your tax money running in the wind just like their lies. "

    MLloyd wrote on Nov 20, 2009 10:20 AM:

    " Where were the guards that are responsible for monitoring and checking on the prisoners? Were they sitting around the monitors watching the feamles or scratching themselves? This is purely irresponsible behavior that has ensued because of the greed of money and the corruptionof power. Strain and the officers should all be held liable for this and other deaths, escapes and misconduct in the jail. When was the last time he was given a right to contact family or his leagl representative? Was he given medical treatment or mental health evaluations due to the disturbing behavior the Sheriff is claiming? "

    MPeters wrote on Nov 20, 2009 10:14 AM:

    " This is a travesty! Strain and the guards on duty should be fired and a full investigation should be done to make sure they aren't covering their tracks or track-record! How can they release such careless information. The jail spent millions of tax payers money to bring it up to standards with all the camera's and tech equipment and all the monitors. This is purely lax and irresponsible on both the Sheriff and his worthless jail house staff. "

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