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Nashville TN deputy leaves woman locked in courthouse room www.privateofficer.com
Angleyn Hendricks, 49, was stuck in the downtown courthouse in a locked attorney visitation room for 17 hours overnight.
Now, a long-time deputy faces discipline, and there’s a new policy to keep it from happening again.
“There was surely a violation of policy,” said Chief Deputy John Ford.
On Friday, a judge sent Hendricks to jail for 48 hours. A deputy then put Hendricks in a locked, 8′ by 6′ visitation room on the fourth-floor around 3 p.m. Friday.
He should have returned right away but forgot.
No one returned to room until 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Hendricks had no food, water or access to a bathroom.
Once a deputy discovered her, he took the woman to the Criminal Justice Center. Medical personnel examined her and found that she was in good health.
“We’re in business because everyone makes mistakes, and we’re not exempt from making mistakes. My thing is we need to learn from what we’ve done and hopefully this won’t happen again,” said Ford.
Policy has now changed. Instead of a single double-check for inmates. Three deputies will now sweep the building every night.
“It will be almost impossible for us to miss anybody,” said Ford.
The deputy responsible for leaving the woman faces an official reprimand.
“He was very remorseful. He took responsibility for it, and of course, that’s what we would want,” said Ford.
The woman got credit for the 17 hours she spent neglected at the courthouse. She’s out of jail but is scheduled to return to court next month on an unrelated drug charge.
The sheriff’s department hasn’t figured out how to discipline the deputy. He could face anything from a letter of warning to suspension.
Source:WSMV
