From the perspective of famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump, the dealings in the Harris County Jail can be summed up by the phrase, “New day, same stuff.”
Crump recently announced the filing of two new lawsuits against Harris County for the deaths and alleged abuse of eight inmates. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of D’Alessandro Chavez-Sandoval, Alan Kerber, Eric Russell, Kyle Ryker, Victoria Simon, Robert Terry, Michael Walker, and Daevion Young.
Terry was reported to have been dragged into a cell and beaten by officers, according to one of the lawsuits filed. The lawsuit further asserts that after Terry’s alleged beating, though he received some treatment from Harris County Jail medical staff, he was not evaluated for potentially serious injuries, including head trauma or internal hemorrhaging, which it was later determined he had sustained during the beating, per the lawsuit details.
Though it is unclear the level of medical treatment Terry received, what is certain is that Terry was showing signs of serious medical distress, including throwing up, coughing up, and defecating blood in the aftermath of the beating, according to the complaint.
It is also reported that Terry eventually passed out, hit his head on the metal toilet, and was found unresponsive, which resulted in his death.
The lawsuits allege that the inmates were deprived of their constitutional rights and mistreated while being detained. The lawsuit also details Harris County’s persistent culture of maltreatment and lack of concern for the lives of detainees awaiting pre-trial, which ultimately led to the alleged constitutional violations.
For the past few years, Harris County Jail has been in the news constantly for inmate abuse. A federal investigation even ensued and determined serious changes needed to be made at the facility. Yet, according to the recent pair of lawsuits filed by Crump, the abuses continue.
The second lawsuit details what has been described as the “deliberate indifference” that Crump and his team assert led to the deaths of Alan Kerber and Victoria Simon. This second lawsuit also brings to light claims on behalf of several others who contend they too were beaten ruthlessly by officers within the jail.
A few months ago, one of those reported beatings (of D’Alessandro Chavez-Sandoval) was caught on camera and released to the public.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has yet to offer public comments regarding these recent lawsuits.
