Corey Bailey was 31 years old when he died, face down, on the floor of a cell in the Dallas County Jail this past June. No friends, no family, no last rites, alone on a cold floor, and we know he was scared - think about that.
Why?
So far, there's been an internal investigation - but none of the jail employees have been given leave, much less fired, for any wrongdoing - and the medical examiner's initial decision was that the cause of Bailey's death was "undetermined."
Sure doesn't sound like it's that hard to call ... and Bailey's family apparently thinks so, too, because they've sued.
Here's the backstory:
1. Corey Bailey was mentally ill, and suffering from paranoid delusions.
2. On June 27, 2008, Corey Bailey was to be moved from the Decker Jail to another facility.
3. Corey Bailey was mentally ill -- paranoid -- and scared of the guards - he confronted them, and they admit to spraying him with pepper spray.
4. Somehow, there's a gap in the story here (ahem), Corey Bailey is moved and he's placed face down in a new jail cell.
5. Twenty minutes later, according to the guards, they come to check on Corey Bailey and he's "nonresponsive." Read that, dead.
6. From the medical examiner, we know that Corey Bailey suffered from toxic effects of PCP, suffered from "excited delirium," and suffered from the "restraint by police officers," which together combined with "physiological stress associated with restraint" to kill him.
7. The autopsy report reveals that "traumatic asphyxia associated with restraint" may have contributed to Corey Bailey's death -- and that happens from choke holds or from pushing a knee into Corey's back (which would keep Corey from breathing).
Here's what the family attorney has pled in the lawsuit:
1. Corey Bailey was handcuffed at the wrists and ankles before anyone attempted to move him anywhere.
2. Six guards then dragged Corey Bailey down the hall by his pant legs and arms. That's right: SIX.
3. Corey Bailey was vomiting as they were doing this.
4. Corey Bailey spat at the nurse who was treating him for the pepper spray, and for an injury to his knee. (Before you get upset at this, put yourself in Corey's position. Ponder how you're feeling right about now, the fear and the anger .... add to that a delusion or two - maybe monsters are trying to kill you, or maybe aliens are trying to abduct you ... you're not in reality right now)
5. In response, a guard covered Corey Bailey's mouth with a plastic bag until a mask arrived (this is in the autopsy report).
6. Guards placed Corey in a cell, face down, and removed his cuffs (which we can assume means he was unconscious, right?)
Who Was Corey Bailey?
According to his brother Cedric, Corey was a church-going, hard-working guy who took care of his 10-year-old son. He had family who loved him.
According to medical records, Corey was a diagnosed mentally ill person, suffering from paranoid delusions.
According to autopsy records, Corey was a drug user because somehow, he had PCP in his system. (Isn't this curious???? ? Wonder when that PCP was put into Corey's body????? This PCP is just so darn convenient.)
Finally, according to jail records, Corey Bailey is the first inmate to die after an involvement with Dallas County jail guards since the jail was forced by court order to make "improvements" -- and these changes only happened after federal inspectors ruled that the Dallas County Jail was dangerous and indifferent to human suffering.
The Dallas County Jail was "dangerous and indifferent to human suffering."
When was that? Just 2 years back ... doesn't sound like much has changed, does it?
Meanwhile, the most sincerest of condolences to the family and friends of Corey Bailey, especially his ten year old son.
Source:
Dallas Morning News
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-bailey_27met.ART.State.Edition2.4a1e0d1.html
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4 comments:
Let's see - mentally ill, PCP, etc. ... family "now" suing ... maybe the family should have cared more for him and he should have cared more for himself? What was the family doing to help their loved one before this event? Was his mental health being competently treated? Was he appropriately taking any prescribed medication? Did anyone force him to ingest PCP? Is the family suing the PCP manufacturer, distributor, seller, etc.? Nnnnooooooo -- let's just sue the only deep pocket available for the shortcomings of the man, his family, the drug community, etc. .... Another ridiculous attenpt to shift responsibility from where it belongs to attempt to win the litigation lottery ....
That might be a valid excuse, only it was not the PCP that killed him. It was the officers at the county. They sprayed him and did not decontaminate him, put a PLASTIC BAG over his mouth and beat him. I know you work for the county and that is why you are defending them, I worked for them too and know how they are. They killed him and tried to cover it up by dumping his lifeless corpse in a tank to be found by someone else
I would say most of the jails in Texas need to be looked at alot more closely. Why don't internal affairs spend some money where its much needed. Put undercover officers in these facilities and find out what's truly taking place. Dallas Cnty, Harris Cnty, Jefferson Cnty, etc need "eyes" watching them and their guards a little closer. If not there's going to be a lot more unexplained or covered up deaths, etc.
When will someone with authority address the volumes of documented, reviewed, legally recognized, etc. reported abuses and neglect on many levels related to inmates in the Dallas County Jail? The mentally ill seem to be targeted, or maybe just ignored to the degrees of horrific outcomes! DCJ failing inspection for 7 years in a row is a clear sign something has been consistently wrong for a very long time, huh????? A jail is not a hospital, and when dealing with the mentally ill, an isolation cell, and physical and mental torture is not exactly what doctors order as a long term care plan. Compare the treatment received at state hospitals verses the jails health care results, and then analyze who seems to know the effective means of caring for the mentally ill. I like the option of undercover officers or surprise raids by top officials as the above suggested. Setting up an appointment and wet-nursing these jail officials is not going to achieve the results needed. Please, send in the civil rights to the front lines. This is America, we don't torture and accept man's inhumanity to man!!!
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