Jorden Sims, 28, died after unshackling himself and jumping from the back of a moving police car.
TUCSON, Ariz. — A wrongful death trial alleging negligence in the death of 28-year-old Jorden Sims is underway in federal court in Tucson.
An investigation by the Arizona Attorney General's Office found no evidence of criminal activity. Now, Sims' mother is seeking justice in civil court.
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Sims' mother, Deborah Sanchez, and the attorney representing Graham County gave opening statements before the jury Tuesday.
The trial begins four years after Sims' death. The jury consists of six women and two men.
What happened to Jorden Sims?
On December 26, 2019, Sims was being driven from the Sierra Vista facility to Safford in the back of a Graham County jail transport vehicle.
She was handcuffed and additional restraints were placed around her waist and ankles. Officials said she used a vial of shower gel to slip through all three restraints, open the door of a law enforcement vehicle and jump from the moving vehicle.
She died from her injuries.
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Sims was arrested in Safford on a report of shoplifting. When her officers checked her, they discovered there was an outstanding warrant for her arrest from Yavapai County. After her arrest, Sims complained of her abdominal pain and was taken to the hospital, records show.
She claimed that the Safford police officer who transported her sexually assaulted her while she was waiting at the hospital. When Sims was later taken to jail, her video showed her trying to escape.
A few days later, Sims reported the alleged sexual assault. After her examination, she found that her claims were unfounded.
When Sims was taken back to prison, he claimed he was assaulted again, this time by a female detention officer.
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She was scheduled to undergo another sexual assault examination. She was driven by a female Graham County sheriff's officer and a male jail employee.
After that test, which also proved inconclusive, Sims asked to use the restroom. There, she picked up a small bottle of shower gel, officials said.
Her ankle, hip and wrist restraints were replaced, and two law enforcement officers began driving Sims to the hospital as she complained of abdominal pain.
Two blocks from the hospital, Sims jumped out of the car.
Lawyers for Sims' mother claim the county was at fault.
Sanchez's attorney, David Joseph Catanese, argued in his opening statement that Sims' death could have been prevented.
He detailed Sims' difficult upbringing and struggles with addiction and mental health issues. He noted that after his arrest, Sims was given a “red tag,” meaning he was a flight risk. She was also placed on suicide watch.
Catanese cited Graham County's policy that when transporting inmates, inmates are never allowed to leave the custody officer's view.
Catanese said the female sheriff's officer, who had no experience with waist or ankle restraints, asked Sims how to remove the restraints when she was at the facility for a sexual assault examination.
After the exam, Catanese criticized the authorities' decision to let Sims use the toilet out of direct view. He also questioned why authorities did not see or hear Sims remove his restraints from just inches away in the back seat of the police car.
Finally, he noted that the child lock on the back seat was left unlocked and Sims was able to open the door from the inside. He pointed out that law enforcement officials were unaware that their cars had child locks.
Catanese believes Sanchez should be compensated for what he called the law enforcement officers' negligence.
Defense claims Sims' death was 'calculated'
Graham County Attorney Darryl Audilette said Jorden Sims' death was calculated and well thought out.
In addition to speaking about Sims' struggles as a parent and the challenges of seeking treatment for addiction and mental health issues, Audilette discusses the many things Sims did while in custody, from sexual assault allegations to a pregnancy scare. He also mentioned a number of claims.
On Dec. 26, Audilet said he repeatedly asked authorities to turn on the heater, claiming it was to cover up the sound of Sims “secretly” removing the chain.
Audilet said the vehicle was not a typical vehicle used by either of these officials, but no one knew it had child locks installed. He claimed Mr Sims would have been aware of the child lock.
He described Sims as an expert pilot and said he carefully planned his ejection from the car.
The trial continues this week before Judge John Hinderaker, with the jury expected to hear testimony from several witnesses, including two law enforcement officers who were in Sims' car when he jumped.
RELATED: Death in police custody: What happened to Jorden Sims?
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