কারাগারে লোকটির মৃত্যুর বিষয়ে একটি পরিবার ক্রো উইং কাউন্টিতে মামলা করছে
The wife of a Nisswa man who died last year in the Crow Wing County jail has filed a federal lawsuit against the county and a corrections officer. Robert Slybagh, 57, was booked into jail on February 22, 2024, on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was found unresponsive in his cell later that evening. A forensic doctor ruled the death a suicide by hanging. The lawsuit was filed last week in U.S. District Court on behalf of his wife, Susan Slybagh, 32. The lawsuit alleges that the county and corrections officer Brandon Anderson ignored red flags indicating Slybagh’s need for medical and mental healthcare, including severe intoxication and a prior suicide attempt. The suit also states Slybagh was placed in a cell with a bunk bed that the Minnesota Department of Corrections had identified as a suicide risk. It had been used in several prior suicide attempts in the jail. “We think it’s important to have answers as to how he could be left alone with these dangerous bunks, in those other circumstances that really create a significant risk of suicide,” said Jeff Storms Dureck, an attorney with the Minneapolis law firm Storms Dureck, who represents Susan Slybagh. He said the unit lacked the frequent checks on inmates by guards needed for potentially suicidal or withdrawing inmates. The lawsuit accuses Anderson of violating Slybagh’s constitutional rights under the 14th Amendment, and accuses the county of maintaining policies and practices that “fostered a culture of negligence towards suicide prevention.” She is seeking a judgment of more than $75,000. “This is about accountability and justice,” Storms said. “And when we talk about accountability, it’s not just for (Slybagh’s) family, but for other families who potentially have loved ones incarcerated at Crow Wing County Jail.” Crow Wing County Sheriff Eric Klang referred questions about the case to Jason Hiveley, a Bloomington attorney who represents the county and its employees. Hiveley declined to comment on the pending litigation. Slybagh worked for over 30 years as the Camp Director at Confidence Learning Center in Brainerd, which provides outdoor recreational experiences for individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities. He was also one of the founders of the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza. If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs immediate mental health support, call or text 988 to access the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
প্রকাশিত: 2025-10-14 02:46:00
উৎস: www.mprnews.org
