The relatives of a manwho diedafter reportedly spending two weeksbare, damp, chilly, and coated in wasteA civil lawsuit involving multiple law enforcement and correctional officers has been resolved by individuals who were held in a cement-floored cell at the Walker County Jail.
On Thursday, legal representatives informed WVTM 13 that a private agreement was finalized between the family of Tony Mitchell and the listed defendants, who have since been removed from the case by a judge:
- Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith
- Jail Administrator Justin White
- Officer Arthur T.J. Armstrong
- Officer Denzel Mitchell
- Officer Arcelia Jottie Tidwell
- Officer Braxton Kee
- Officer Bailey Ganey
- Officer Katherine Clingan
- Officer Jacob Smith
- Officer Jeremy Farley
- Officer Richard Holtzman
- Officer Benjamin Shoemaker
- Officer Morgan Madison
- Officer Dayton Wakefield
- Investigator Carl Carpenter
The Mitchell family’s allegations against medical personnel Alicia Herron, Brad Allred, Patricia Hammonds, and Daniel Wyers, along with Quality Correctional Healthcare Inc., will move forward.
Mitchell was taken into custody on January 12, 2023, following a family member’s request for a well-being check. At that time, the sheriff’s department reported that Mitchell was discussing gateways to hell and claimed he had shot at law enforcement officers.
When Mitchell arrived at the jail, he was said to “be unable to walk or stand by himself” and was “confused, not aggressive, and unable to follow directions.”
He was kept in cell BK5, often called “the drunk tank.”
Officers were responsible for escorting them to the restroom or shower, and they depended on officers to provide them with food and water,” according to court records. “BK5 was extremely chilly during the winter, and the temperature on the bare concrete floor was even more frigid.
Court records also claim that he did not receive a medical examination until the day he passed away, which was two weeks later.
Prison guards reportedly said multiple times that Mitchell should have been killed so they wouldn’t have to handle him, and that they would have done so if they had acted instead of the deputies.
On the morning of January 26, a nurse instructed that Mitchell be taken to a hospital immediately, warning that he could die if not.
A guard reportedly said, “I’ll tell you this, the next time you’re on the toilet (expletive), I’ll call you to disturb you with something trivial.”
Mitchell was ultimately taken to Walker Baptist Medical Center Hospital in the back of a police car. Later, doctors removed him from life support at his mother’s request.
Mitchell’s family initiated a federal legal actionAfter video emerged showing deputies transporting Mitchell to a vehicle, the family stated he had been held in a cell for two weeks and may have been placed in a freezer. The employee who obtained the footage was terminated by the department.
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READ THE FULL STORY:Secret agreement finalized in a civil lawsuit concerning the passing of Tony Mitchell
