Stamford Police Did Not Follow Policies Leading Up To Death Of Man In Their Custody, Preliminary Report Says

STAMFORD, CT — New details in the January death of a man in Stamford police custody were released this week as part of a preliminary report compiled by the State of Connecticut Office of Inspector General.

Inspector General Eliot D. Prescott said the death of Jamal Linton, 36, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was not a result of police force or criminal action, however, the Stamford Police Department "did not adhere to its own policies designed to prevent these types of incidents from occurring."

Linton was found unresponsive in his cell at Stamford Police Headquarters at approximately 5:42 p.m. on Jan. 26, the day he was arrested. Police said at the time it appeared he had suffocated himself using a ligature.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on Jan. 27 and determined the cause of death to be hanging and the manner of death to be suicide.

Prescott wrote in his preliminary report Linton was searched twice by officer Matthew Harrison following his arrest in Stamford - once at the time of booking, and again before he was put into a cell at the SPD jail.

The searches failed to discover a string-like belt made of synthetic material from the inner waistband sleeve of Linton's pants that he later used as a ligature, Prescott said.

The preliminary report included photos of the belt as well as a screenshot from police bodycam footage showing a belt buckle on the front of Linton's pants.

Additionally, SPD policy calls for officers assigned at the jail to perform physical cellblock checks every 30 minutes.

"The officers who were tasked on January 26th to monitor and ensure the safety of the prisoners, including Linton, did not completely do their jobs," Prescott said.

Officers Eleni Hatsis and Nicholas Kuhn began their shifts that day at 3 p.m., the preliminary report noted.

"According to the log, there were no documented cellblock checks from 3:00 p.m. to 5:41 p.m.," Prescott wrote, noting Linton hanged himself between 4:56 p.m. and 5:07 p.m.

Prescott explained Linton wedged the belt between the corner of his cell's call box and the wall, looped it around his neck, and moved to a seated position on the floor.

Both Hatsis and Kuhn wrote in their reports that it was common for prisoners to sit on the floor for better heat ventilation.

The electronic log showed the officers performed one cell check, but not until 5:42 p.m. when Linton likely was already dead, Prescott explained.

"The physical presence of the officers in the cellblock and their interaction with the prisoners might have discouraged Linton from connecting the belt to the phone box for fear of being discovered. I cannot know for sure; what I do know is that Linton never confronted that risk of discovery because nophysical checks were made. Moreover, the officers’ monitoring of the cell video feed was deficient, Prescott wrote.

"Finally, the officers’ statement that they regularly checked the monitors does not seem reliable because Linton’s actions in committing suicide, beginning when he can be seen holding something and ending when he stopped moving, lasted almost ten minutes. Yet, this activity was not observed."

Read also: 'This Is Not Going To End Well': Details, Videos Released In Barricaded Suspect's Standoff With Stamford PD

Linton, who had no record of convictions, was arrested on Jan. 26 and charged with second-degree assault, second-degree strangulation and violation of a protective order, a news release from the Office of Inspector General said at the time. Linton was being held on a $75,000 bond at SPD Headquarters pending an appearance in Stamford Superior Court on Jan. 27.

Linton was also due to appear in court in Allentown, Pa. on March 13 on a charge of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, Prescott's preliminary report said.
"It is difficult to imagine the depths of despair that motivated him to do that," Prescott wrote of Linton's death by suicide.

"Perhaps he feared a lengthy incarceration. His despair may have been driven by the felony charges he faced in Stamford or the serious crime for which he had been charged in Pennsylvania. It may have been something else. My investigation has not revealed the 'why?', and I cannot fault the officers of the Stamford Police Department for failing to perceive a suicide risk that was far from evident."

Booking officers are required to evaluate a prisoner for suicide risk before securing him or her in a cellblock or holding area, according to department policy.

"Based on the entries on the form, Linton posed little to no risk of suicide," Prescott wrote. "On the form's questions regarding (1) past suicide attempts or (2) comments from the detainee or others about being suicidal, the officer checked the 'no' box."

However, "the preventability of Linton's suicide is another story," Prescott wrote.

The SPD launched its own investigation after Linton's death.

"Subsequently, certain alterations were made to the cellblock facility with the intention of enhancing safety and security for those in custody and our personnel," Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw said in a statement this week. "We also addressed the question of our personnel’s adherence to our policies and procedures. Proper and corrective action has been taken."

The SPD added caulk around all phones, toilets, vents and other areas to seal gaps between walls, Prescott's preliminary report said.

More monitors were added to various areas of the SPD jail, and "30-minute Cellblock Checks" signs were added.

Reports of cellblock checks are also now sent to all supervisors on a weekly basis to confirm required checks are being made.

"We recognize the seriousness of this incident and have taken all necessary steps to review our policies and strengthen our procedures," Shaw added. "We are committed to upholding the trust the community places in us and the care and well-being of those in our charge remains a high priority. Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Jamal Linton during this time."

Prescott noted that in other reports issued by his office, it has been recommended that law enforcement agencies consider issuing substitute clothing to arrestees who cannot make bond and are held in police lockup until they're taken to court.

Read the full report from the Office of Inspector General here.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.