Prison inmate death after run-in with staff ruled homicide

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


John O'connor, Ap Political Writer
Updated 3:35 am CST, Monday, November 19, 2018

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The death of an inmate following an "altercation with correctional staff" at Western Illinois Correctional Center in May has been ruled a homicide, according to an autopsy report provided to The Associated Press under a Freedom of Information request.

. . .

At least four Western Illinois employees were placed on administrative leave with pay on May 22, according to documents provided under the Freedom of Information Act. Suspended for allegedly violating conduct standards were correctional Sgt. Willie Hedden, 40, of Mount Sterling; correctional Lts. Benjamin Burnett, 33, of Winchester, and Blake Haubrich, 30, of Quincy and correctional officer Alex Banta, 27, of Quincy.

. . .

In addition to the broken ribs and multiple abrasions which showed signs of healing at the time of death, Earvin had pneumonia, a tracheostomy tube and a chest tube to drain fluids, all associated with chest trauma, according to Norfleet's findings. Under the heading "blunt abdominal trauma," the report says that a portion of Earvin's colon had been removed surgically and an ileostomy bag installed for waste removal.

. . .

The death certificate indicates that Earvin was born in an unknown Mississippi city. He was sentenced to six years in prison in 2015 for theft of merchandise under $300 in Cook County. His rap sheet also includes a seven-year stretch in 2004 for aggravated arson and previous convictions for retail theft, burglary, theft and attempted burglary dating to 1984.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Prison-inmate-death-after-run-in-with-staff-ruled-13402437.php

[Judi Lynn]

1. Very odd final paragraph:

The corrections department initially said it didn't have any documents related to the incident. It denied AP's first request for records in July, and when the news organization appealed to the attorney general's public access counselor, the department responded that it had turned everything in its possession over to the FBI , and didn't even have copies of its own investigative reports. It later acknowledged it had found copies. The counselor ruled last week that the department had not fully complied with the Freedom of Information Act.

[kiri]

2. "paid administrative leave" is a free vacation and reward

"paid administrative leave" is a free vacation and reward. Don't go to work, sleep late, go about whatever you want--even fly to Hawaii--and get your pay check. Keep your health insurance and retirement benefits accruing. Instead of a lousy minimum wage--working--everybody should get 3 months of 'paid administrative leave'.

[7962]

3. SOP for government jobs. Should be NO pay, and if you're cleared you'd get the back pay.

because if you're found liable or guilty, do they EVER go after the pay given during the leave? No.

[RobinA]

4. It's Called Due Process

and generally has to be insured by the presence of a union. Don't worry, union membership is falling.

[Scurrilous]

5. ...