SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — A federal lawsuit accuses the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department of negligence after an inmate who allegedly was suffering from drug withdrawal symptoms killed himself.
Raymond McCarty was arrested Feb. 21, 2018, and was held at a St. Joseph County jail medical unit. The lawsuit says McCarty told jail staff that he usually took medications for depression, blood pressure and back pain — including an opioid — but he didn't get them while jailed.
The lawsuit on behalf of McCarty's estate says he allegedly had withdrawal symptoms and hallucinations. McCarty died Feb. 25, 2018, after being found unresponsive with a cut to his arm.
Sheriff Bill Redman says in a statement his office takes the matter "very seriously" and lawyers for the sheriff's office will respond "based on all the evidence."