(WHAS11) -- A female inmate is now the fifth person to file a tort claim notice against Harrison County for alleged abuse in the Harrison County Jail, and there could be at least 20 more, including a man who talked to WHAS11 Tuesday night.
In a word, that's how Darrell Kirkwood describes his experience as an inmate in the Harrison County Jail. Kirkwood spent about three months in jail for check deception and theft, and says during that time he was repeatedly denied his antipsychotic medication by corrections officers. He says the first time the guards refused to give him his medication it led to a verbal argument, which quickly escalated. Kirkwood says "They made me take off all my clothes, down to being completely nude, and placed me into a padded cell area […] sprayed me at least three times, maybe four with this mace.
In June, 18-year-old inmate Tevin Bald made similar allegations and was released from the jail by a Harrison County judge for his own safety. Bald and Kirkwood's claims are just a few on the long list of allegations by current and former inmates at the jail.
In the lawsuit pre-filed against Harrison County Tuesday, a female inmate claims that officers at the jail refused to allow her to receive medical treatment after she experienced heavy vaginal bleeding for about two months. When she finally was allowed to see a doctor, they discovered that she had a growth the size of a softball that required immediate surgery. Now, more than 20 inmates may file lawsuits.
These allegations all come in the midst of several scandals surrounding this department including the indictment of Sheriff Mike Deatrick earlier this year on 12 unrelated felony counts. WHAS11 is told county commissioners will be meeting in executive session Wednesday evening to discuss all of these issues.
