Milwaukee Jail Officer Charged After Inmate's Death In January

MILWAUKEE, WI — A Milwaukee County Jail correctional officer was charged with misconduct in public office on Friday after a man died in his cell in January, according to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office and court records.

Laquisha N. Cowser, 32, faces a felony charge of misconduct in office in Milwaukee County, online court records showed. The charges come in connection with the death of 49-year-old Octaviano Juarez-Corro, the sheriff's office said in a statement.

A Waukesha County Sheriff's Office investigator who reviewed surveillance footage said Cowser skipped several cells during checks, including Juarez-Corro's, just hours before the next shift found him dead, according to the complaint.

When interviewed, Cowser said she "may have" skipped some cells that day, according to the complaint. Earlier, she had told investigators she did not recall seeing anything out of the ordinary during checks, the complaint said.

Earlier in the investigation, Cowser, a third-shift employee, explained to investigators that officers go door-to-door looking in cells to make sure there are people inside and that they are breathing, according to the complaint.

Juarez-Corro was found unresponsive during another check around 6:30 a.m., and although first responders tried to save him, he was dead by 6:45 a.m., according to the complaint. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office discovered a ligature around the man's neck, the complaint said.

If Cowser is convicted, she could face up to $10,000 in fines and up to 3.5 years in prison.

The sheriff's office on Friday said Cowser, who has around four years of experience, was relieved of duty with pay pending the outcome of the criminal case and another internal review.

“This office holds itself to high standards in its service to Milwaukee County,” said Sheriff Denita Ball in a news release, “and no member of MCSO is exempt from those standards. When a member of this agency is alleged to have broken the law in the performance of their duty, they will be subject to prosecution, and if they are convicted, they will face consequences as determined by a judge or a jury.

“One death in our custody is one too many. But we are confident these charges demonstrate the MCSO’s commitment to ensure that an independent investigation was conducted, regardless of the result,” Ball said in the release.

Related: Inmate Dies At Milwaukee County Jail: Reports