“KEEP HIM RESTRAINED”!!! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, INDICTMENTS ALLEGE THREE JAILERS CAUSED AN INMATE’S DEATH BY LEAVING HIM IN A RESTRAINT CHAIR AS FOUR SHELBY COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES FACE CHARGES.
Four current and former Shelby County law enforcement employees have been indicted following an in-custody death.
James Elliot Perry Jr., 49, died while in custody on July 19.
Three jailers have been indicted on four charges each in connection with the death.
Jailer Phillip Youngblood Jr. was indicted on four criminal counts.
Jailer Jayne Scharnberg faces an identical set of four counts.
Jailer Andrew Valadez was also indicted on the four charges.
Each of the three jailers faces a charge of manslaughter.
Each faces a charge of violation of the civil rights of a person in custody.
Each is charged with tampering with a government record.
Each also faces a count of official oppression.
Perry was placed in a restraint chair late July 18 to prevent self-harm, according to a state report.
On July 19, Perry was found unresponsive just before 7 a.m.
The indictments allege the three jailers caused Perry’s death by leaving him restrained in the chair.
Deputy Angela Neal was separately indicted in connection with the case.
Neal faces three criminal charges.
Neal was indicted on a charge of aggravated perjury.
She is also charged with tampering with a government record.
Neal faces a third count of official oppression.
The indictments allege Neal made false statements in a probable cause affidavit used to establish the validity of Perry’s arrest.
And the indictments allege Neal made a false entry in an offense report.
Neal has been placed on administrative leave.
The sheriff’s office is conducting an administrative review.
Sheriff Gerald Corbell said he expected criminal charges against the three jailers.
But Corbell believes the case was brought before the grand jury “prematurely.”
Corbell noted that the Texas Rangers investigation remains ongoing.
To his knowledge, the autopsy and toxicology report is not yet available, Corbell said.
And Corbell said he does not agree with the conclusion regarding Neal’s indictment.
The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
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