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Florida grand jury says jail workers' negligence was a factor in inmate's death

The Associated Press
8/9/02

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) -- Deficiencies by jail personnel, including a nurse, contributed to the death of an inmate who apparently swallowed several Ecstasy pills before his lockup, a grand jury report said.

Justin Sturgis, 20, died in February, five hours after being booked into the Bay County Jail for driving while under the influence. He apparently swallowed 10 to 12 Ecstasy pills just before his arrest.

Deeno Kitchen, an attorney for the Corrections Corporation of America, the company that operates the jail, said Sturgis ate the pills so they wouldn't be found in his possession. "Mr. Sturgis chose to swallow these illegal drugs in order to avoid prosecution," Kitchen said.

But in a report, grand jurors said jail workers failed to adequately monitor Sturgis, though the sudden onset of symptoms and amount of drugs consumed made it uncertain if he could have been saved had he been rushed to a hospital when he first became ill.

"Correctional personnel failed to demonstrate adequate health training in responding to the level of distress evidenced by Justin Sturgis," the grand jury presentment stated.

In addition, policies requiring a "system of structured inquiry and observation" to an inmate's medical condition were not adhered to, the report said. The grand jury found no criminal liability.

Doctors at Bay Medical Center said Sturgis died of malignant hyperthermia, a rare reaction to the drug. His temperature reportedly was 108 degrees when admitted to the hospital, about three hours after he first became ill. The report singled out the response of jail nurse William Schwarz Jr., saying, "Such deficiencies may have contributed to the death of Justin Sturgis."

Emergency room Dr. George Tracy testified he told Schwarz to take Sturgis' vital signs and call him back. Schwarz said Tracy told him to call back in two hours, the report said. Schwarz's attorney Harry Harper said Schwarz was the only nurse on duty and acted "reasonably and responsibly."

Some witnesses testified "some correctional officers received information that Sturgis had ingested as many as 12 Ecstasy pills. There is conflicting testimony whether this information was made known to the nurse," according to the presentment.

The report did not address inmates' allegations that jail workers mocked the moaning Sturgis for two hours before calling an ambulance.

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