Gila County, Arizona — The Gila County Jail faces its fourth lawsuit in two years, alleging unconstitutional detention of people with mental illness.

The latest case involves Anthony Stewart. He died in his cell in April 2021 after using a towel to hang himself.

An internal investigation into Stewart’s case found that staff failed to ensure health checks were completed and the prison needed a new policy for suicide monitoring. The survey also found that many detainees were not up to date on lifesaving CPR training.

On the one year anniversary of Stewart’s death, Stewart’s family and friends gathered to remember the 23-year-old. They wrote messages on cards and tied them to balloons that were released into the air.

Stewart’s father, Robert Zash, said, “I hope he knows how much he’s missed.

Stewart played soccer and spoiled the cat. He also had a brush with schizophrenia and law enforcement.

“When he was on drugs, he could be an influential member of society, but without drugs, he was a completely different child.

Last January, Stewart stole Yu-Gi-Oh! Walmart card. Police reports said an off-duty security guard chased him. Officers said he shot Stewart when the young man tried to hit him with his car.

Stewart was accused of attempted murder and shoplifting. He was arrested and confined to the Gila County Jail pending trial. The prison is located in Grove, 90 miles east of Phoenix.

Stewart’s family says he was denied visitation on numerous occasions.

“I never saw him again,” Zash said.

Stewart was court-ordered to take medication daily, but according to electronic prison logs, he was advised to take medication 14 of the 100 days he was in prison. Sometimes he refused drugs.

“He didn’t like drugs. He hated them,” Zash said. “It wasn’t his responsibility to make sure he got them. It was their responsibility to make sure he got them.”

Meanwhile, prison reports show Stewart has become a danger to himself and others. Reports indicate he has attempted suicide four times, including his two on April 5, 2021. After the first attempt that day, a handwritten prison observation log shows that a contract mental health worker at Community His Bridge spent seven minutes of his time evaluating him. An hour later, logs show Stewart backflipping out of the toilet in his cell in another suicide attempt, and less than two hours in the hospital, he was returned to jail.

Anthony’s mother, Valerie Stewart, filed a lawsuit against the Gila County Sheriff’s Office earlier this month. Failure to do so has been claimed as wrongful death and unconstitutionality.

“Captives are treated better under the Geneva Conventions than Stewart was treated in county jail,” Valerie’s attorney Jason Kelly said.

ABC15 investigators obtained a video from prison showing Stewart’s final suicide attempt on April 19, 2021. At 7:17 a.m., the prison report said Stewart took his medication and told his nurse that he wasn’t feeling well, but didn’t elaborate.

Two minutes later, Stewart wiggled something white between the cells.

“He’s moving towels in and out of the bar,” Kelly said.

A detainee was stationed at the foot of this desk while Stewart rearranged white towels on the bar at least four more times, according to an internal GCSO investigation.

All movement in the cell ceases around 7:40 am.

An internal investigation found that detainees were supposed to check on Stewart every 15 minutes in accordance with behavioral health surveillance policies. I didn’t check until after .

The detainee called for help and tried to untie Stewart.It’s too late. He died two days later.

“It could have been prevented,” said Stewart’s stepmother Andrea Lennon. “He will still be with us today.”

“You put him in there, you denied him care, you treated him badly,” Kelly said. They were at least the cause of his death. ”

The detainee quit before internal investigators could interview her.

Her supervisor told investigators that she has a handheld device that allows prison administrators to send alarms if cell checks are not completed on time.

“As far as I know, I don’t remember if the alarm was sounding or if it was actively open,” Sgt. Brandi Kriley said in a recorded interview during the investigation.

This is the fourth lawsuit filed against the Gila County Sheriff’s Office in two years, alleging that this rural county jail violated the constitutional rights of mentally ill inmates.

Tamara Vernicourt Water was cut off for days, and in 2019 I ended up drinking water from the toilet. She was also held without charge for 27 days.Vernicoat settled a lawsuit with the county in July. One of his prison staff was demoted for failing to heed Vernicourt’s watering off, and the sheriff promised better training.

ABC15 investigators have revealed how memory burn has gotten worse in cells in 2020. After prison officials failed to release her to a mental health facility despite a judge’s order.

Gene “Chad” Beason committed suicide On Christmas Day 2018. He had heard voices before his death, but he was not receiving psychiatric treatment. Because of Beeson’s death by hanging, prison staff skipped checking his cell. Detainee Lance Gord resigned during an internal investigation, and four of his others were suspended without pay.

Stewart’s family wants changes that include more mental health professionals, better training, and possibly a bigger budget.At the same time, they hope current prison administrators can prevent another death. I’m wondering if

“It certainly seems absurd for us to think that prisons and counties are going to act together without personnel changes,” Kelly said.

“They have a broken system,” said Lennon.

An attorney representing Gila County said the sheriff could not comment on Stewart due to pending lawsuits and medical privacy rights.

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