Drugs cited in wrongful death lawsuit

Drugs cited in wrongful death lawsuit

 

On June 17 a wrongful death lawsuit was filed in federal court naming the Baker County Sheriff’s Office negligent in the death of a man who died three years ago in police custody.

Joanne Thornton says in the lawsuit that the BCSO was negligent because it didn't watch her son, Paul B. Carroll, 33, after he was arrested in October 2005 on drug-possession charges. She had Carroll arrested herself because he was causing a disturbance.

The lawsuit claims deputies did not seek medical care, but left him in the cell after he was booked, even after Carroll told them he'd been using drugs. An autopsy concluded he died about five hours later of multiple drug ingestion.

Sheriff Joey Dobson said he has been aware that the lawsuit was pending since Thornton's lawyer notified him.