Six days into a 23-day sentence for a traffic charge, the pain became unbearable.
During his first five days at the Harford County Detention Center, Norman Miller carried a secret inside him. Seeking favor with his fellow inmates, before entering the jail Miller swallowed two small “balloons”—actually fingers from a latex glove—filled with tobacco, matches, and a match-striker. But the balloons became lodged in his stomach and, as his agony increased, Miller twice sought treatment from the detention center’s privately-contracted medical staff.
The second time, after admitting what he had swallowed, Miller was given a laxative and moved to an isolation cell, supposedly under constant watch. He was left alone for a short time, monitored only by video. Desperate for relief, he shrugged off his prison-issued shirt, tore it into strips, tied it around the top of one of the cell’s bars, looped the other end around his neck, and stepped off the edge of his cot.
Minutes passed before corrections officers realized what Miller had done and rushed to his aid. They were too late to prevent severe asphyxiation, which would result in Miller being taken off life support at a local hospital a few days later.
In his last, desperate act, the ninth person to die at the detention center in a span of five years killed himself trying to live.
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Theresa Haladej’s home sits along Main Street in Ephrata, Pa., the type of classic small-town structure that lines main streets across the country. Like many of those homes, it feels lived-in, comfortable, and there’s always an improvement project on hand. On one particular day earlier this summer it is largely darkened, and what light enters comes through the dining room. Appropriate, because that is where Haladej has placed a poster board display showing photos of Miller, her son.
The photos are a collection of anyone’s family moments: older images of Miller with family, shots of him at Christmastime, a few of him and his fiancee Lisa Mays.
Haladej initially left several comments on The Dagger’s coverage of her son’s death before falling silent. In fact, she retained the services of attorney Cary Hansel of Greenbelt law firm Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, a specialist in bringing actions against police agencies. Over the following months and with his help, she strove to learn what happened to her son and force the Harford County Sheriff’s Office to turn over key documents in the incident.
The Sheriff’s Office initially described the death of the 42-year-old Miller only as a suicide attempt. It would be weeks until the state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner finally confirmed his death, and further inquiry at the time was directed to Harford County’s lawyer, who declined comment.
Finally, this spring, Haladej sent a long letter to Sheriff Jesse Bane presenting the facts of her son’s death and asking the sheriff to review the detention center’s suicide prevention policies and procedures. You can read her full letter here. As of this writing, she had not received an answer.
At the same time, she reached out to The Dagger to share what she learned and fill in a few of the blanks of her son’s incomplete life.
Before embarking on that story, several disclosures are necessary.
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office in early October directed all questions about Miller’s death to the Harford County Law Department and County Attorney Rob McCord. McCord in turn said in an e-mail to The Dagger on Oct. 10 that he did not feel that he was “at liberty to discuss the details of the incident” as his department received a “notice of claim letter” since The Dagger first broke news of Miller’s death. The letter, dated July 18, 2013 and signed by attorney Jarrod S. Sharpe, is a common legal tool to indicate that a legal claim may be made against a party.
However, Haladej is adamant that she does not plan to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the county, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, or the deputies who interacted with him before and after he hung himself on that January afternoon.
Without response from the Sheriff’s Office or McCord, much of the detail that follows is based on interviews with those close to Miller and on a variety of documents, including official statements filed by corrections officers who responded to Miller’s suicide attempt and medical records.
The detention center, always a magnet for criticism, has been a point of contention in the ongoing political race for sheriff of Harford County. However, none of the former or current candidates for the post were consulted in the six-month-long reporting process for this story either on or off the record, nor played any part in bringing it to The Dagger. Rather, Haladej said she approached The Dagger with her story independently due to this website’s ongoing reporting on deaths at the detention center and its coverage of her son’s passing.
Miller’s death brought to nine the number of inmates who had died for various reasons since 2008, and marked the third suicide in the span of a year. Since his death, there has not been another publicly-reported fatality at the prison.
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From early adulthood, Norman Michael Miller was not a stranger to the criminal justice system. By the time he was 23, he had been charged in separate incidents for theft, drug charges, and armed robbery in Maryland. In the latter case, his mother said that he used an unloaded firearm. His troubles culminated in nine years in a state prison in the 1990s. According to his mother, while in prison he found religion, obtained his GED, earned the majority of credits he needed toward a college degree, and also taught GED classes to other inmates.
“It wasn’t a totally bad experience in there for him,” Haladej said.
When he got out, Miller’s court records show several additional charges, including burglary, driving under the influence, and an assault charge. But after 2006, there are no further incidents; nor are there any court records of charges against Miller in Lancaster County, Pa., where his mother lives. That coincides with a period of time during which his mother said he came back to her home in Ephrata. While there, she said he was an avid reader of many subjects but especially of theology, and worked on home-improvement projects for friends and family.
“Norm was a homebody, he didn’t go out much at all,” she said. “There was always a project around here.”
During that time, Miller also reconnected with a former girlfriend, Lisa Mays. The two first met when they were 12, Mays said, and after decades of what she described as an off-again, on-again relationship, decided marriage was in their near future.
“We got back in touch with each other after years,” Mays said in a September interview at her home outside Bel Air. “Norman had a special place in my heart, and I in his. We finally got it right.”
Though they continued to have their troubles, the two were on an upswing on May 23, 2012, and Miller spent the afternoon working on Mays’ car at her apartment just outside Bel Air. Though his own license had been suspended, Miller decided to make a quick trip in her Toyota Camry to pick up a needed part that evening while she tended to her mother, who had just undergone a knee replacement. Just after 7 p.m., Miller departed her Greenbrier apartment and made a fateful mistake.
According to a police report, Miller was attempting to turn onto Brierhill Drive from Todd Road when he “failed to yield the right of way to traffic” and collided with another Camry driven by Karen Toussaint. Both Haladej and Mays claim that a bus was stopped just outside the intersection, blocking Miller’s line of sight, and rather than wait until it moved, he attempted to dart across the northbound lanes of Brierhill Drive and collided with Toussaint’s car. By the time police arrived, however, Miller had fled the scene.
The exact reasons why he did so are not entirely clear. Haladej said her son had a beloved dog, Rooney, in the car with him and he feared the animal might have been injured in the crash. She added that a group of youths on the bus who witnessed the crash may also have taunted Miller and intimidated him into leaving the scene. Mays also mentioned both elements as possible causes for Miller’s actions. Toussaint told police that Miller “stated he had to bring his dog home and would be right back,” according to the police report, but did not return.
Haladej said her son was injured in the crash himself, sustaining a concussion and two cracked ribs for which he was treated at a local hospital; she said he passed out in Mays’ apartment after returning there with Rooney. When police reached Mays, she provided them with Miller’s cell phone number; contacted by police, Miller was “very apologetic for his actions, saying he was afraid he would go to jail.” Haladej said a deputy told Miller he could meet with authorities the following day; however, he was charged the next day with several traffic violations, including negligent driving and leaving the scene of an accident.
The case eventually made its way to Harford County Circuit Court, where on Dec. 21, 2012 Miller pleaded guilty to a single count of driving on a revoked license. He was sentenced to a year in jail with all but one month suspended, and would ultimately face a 23-day stint–of the initial 30 day sentence, Miller received two days’ credit for time served when he was arrested, and expected five more days to come off the sentence for good behavior. Haladej said Miller asked sentencing Judge William Carr to postpone the start of his incarceration until the following month so he could be home for the holidays—not an uncommon request at that time of year.
“I kept telling him, you better not be in jail for Christmas,” Haladej said.
Carr agreed, according to court records, and Miller’s sentence was set to start on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Miller (right) with his sister and brothers.
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Before reporting to the Harford County Detention Center, Miller made some preparations. One of them would lead to his death.
First, he changed his appearance. In most photos, Miller is physically unremarkable: brownish hair swept across his forehead, plain glasses, a muscular physique hidden under a sweatshirt. But in a photo taken the day before his imprisonment, he looks starkly different—his head is shaved, he has grown a goatee, and he is wearing a tank top displaying his muscles and tattoos. If the earlier picture is Walter White, the later image is Heisenberg.
“We had been apart the last two weeks before he went in, over some issues,” Mays said. “When I saw that picture…I just saw Norman. I saw the façade he put up.”
When he left his mother in Ephrata, Miller gave her a supply list for projects he intended to complete when he came back.
“When he hugged me when he was going to prison, he said he’d be home on this [particular] date,” she said. “He left me with a supply list of materials for projects and told me ‘don’t wash my clothes’ because things get lost around here in the laundry.”
On the night that Mays drove him to the Detention Center, Miller swallowed two “balloons”; the fingers of a latex glove, cut off and filled, one with rolling tobacco and the other with striker-paper and matches. The practice, known as bodypacking, is common among those transporting and smuggling drugs. Haladej said that research she conducted after her son’s death indicated that most individuals who use latex gloves cut the finger covering off at the first knuckle. Miller’s balloons, however, ran the full length of the finger.
“I think he had a little bit of understanding,” Mays said, “but I think on the whole he was winging it.”
But why take such an extreme step? Haladej cast his decision in terms of fear, claiming that he believed gangs were prevalent at the detention center, and that he had read about the previous deaths and suicides there over the preceding few years. She said he swallowed the cigarette materials as a way to possibly gain protection from other inmates. However, Mays said Miller’s choice may have been a bit more practical in tone–he simply believed he could use the tobacco to build goodwill with other inmates, she said.
“It wasn’t necessarily protection,” Mays said, “it was an ‘in’ to make buddies. He was very aware of the dark side of jail.”
Mays dropped Miller off at the Harford County Detention Center shortly after 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18. He underwent an initial medical screening the next day, conducted by a nurse with Conmed, the jail’s privately-contracted medical service. Based in Hanover, the company has been retained by the Sheriff’s Office through June 2018 to provide medical care at the jail.
Miller’s initial medical screening turned up nothing unusual. Crucially, the nurse conducting the examination checked “no” for the question “Does Arrestee report being suicidal?” and otherwise determined Miller displayed “appropriate” behavior, was “alert,” and appeared “neat/clean.” Miller reported that he had not consumed alcohol in four years, but that he smoked marijuana the night before entering the prison. He was cleared to enter general population.
Miller’s exact whereabouts over the next few days are not perfectly clear. Based on descriptions provided by Haladej and Mays, Miller may have been housed in either a maximum-security cellblock, or a medium-security dormitory-style room, rather than a direct supervision unit an area with separated rooms and a common area reserved for minimum security inmates. An incident report written after Miller’s death states that he was “pulled out of A-block,” the jail’s maximum security wing.
Haladej claimed that her son was uncomfortable at the Detention Center from the start. She said he spoke of other inmates who would keep him up at night with loud noises and yelling as “the banshees”–a term Mays also said he used. His mother also said Miller told Mays that he would go long periods without seeing guards, and that while sleeping in a plastic “boat”–a long curved sled-like object used as an overflow bed–other inmates would move around him, step over him, jostle him. He feared that other inmates were planning to attack him, she said, or tamper with his food.
But, as the days passed, Miller faced a more tangible problem. The balloons he swallowed had become lodged and impacted in his stomach, and would not pass through his intestinal tract. When Mays went to visit him at the detention center on Wednesday, Jan. 23, she said Miller complained of having problems with his stomach, and said he had not yet passed the balloons.
The two also talked of the future, and their recent disagreements.
“I was a little stern with him, because of the breakup we’d had,” she said. “I was a little wishy-washy, a little stern. I was so in love with him. But it was hard.”
While imprisoned, Mays said Miller composed a long letter to her in which he attempted to describe his feelings and his hopes for the future. In it, he broached the idea of marriage. The letter was not delivered to Mays until after Miller’s death.
During her visit, Miller was in pain but not suicidal, according to Mays, who said she has dealt with repeated suicide attempts and a final, successful attempt by a member of her immediate family.
“I think he was exhausted,” she said. “I don’t think he thought he was going to die. He wanted to get medical attention. He had to do something.”
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The following evening, Thursday, Jan. 24, Miller was taken to the facility’s medical suite with severe abdominal pain. According to notes kept by a registered nurse with Conmed who treated Miller, many of which are nearly illegible, he arrived in a “rant” about things he read in a book he received from a jail book cart, but “did not make any sense”–a far cry from the composed inmate evaluated by medical staff just five days earlier. His eyes were closed tightly, and he rolled on the floor with his legs pulled to his chest, according to the notes.
Miller eventually told the nurse that he had not had a bowel movement in a week, but was found to have soft, non-distended, and “active bowel sounds,” according to the nurse’s notes. Miller was eventually given 30 cc’s of Pepto-Bismol, the common over-the-counter substance used to treat minor digestive system maladies, and walked back to his cell under his own power.
The next morning, Friday, Miller was evaluated by a professional, though the name written on the “evaluation and treatment plan” is nearly incomprehensible. While the individual placed “Ph.D” next to their name, it is unclear whether they were a medical doctor, a psychiatric professional, or something else.
In addition to noting Miller’s previous convictions for armed robbery, burglary, and fleeing custody, this report places his marijuana use at “1 joint” daily and also notes daily use of alcohol. Haladej strongly contested those claims; she said neither was true and that Miller drank only occasionally, and doubts her son would have told the interviewer otherwise. The report also cites his previous use of the anti-depressant Celexa, claiming he last used it in 2009 and quoting Miller as saying “I didn’t like it, so I stopped using it.”
However, the Conmed evaluator found no evidence of suicide ideation in Miller seven hours before he he hung himself, and determined that he was “in no acute distress.”
According to Conmed treatment notes and Sheriff’s Office incident reports, Miller was again brought to medical shortly after 4 p.m. that afternoon, again complaining of severe abdominal pain and again seen by a registered nurse and a licensed practical nurse, though it is unclear either are the same individual who treated him the night before. This time, Miller admitted to swallowing balloons with tobacco and paper matches, saying he didn’t mention prior to that time because “I didn’t want to get in trouble.” It’s an explanation his mother found plausible.
“He didn’t want to admit to swallowing the bags on Thursday [Jan. 24], because he would get an infraction,” and the resulting consequences, Haladej said.
According to an incident report written by Cpl. Jonathan Jenkins, which provides much of the narrative surrounding Miller’s death, Miller was given 100 mg of Colace and 10 mg of Dulcolax, constipation relievers. A nurse told Jenkins that Miller’s abdominal area and bowels sounded normal, and he was moved to Isolation Cell number six for observation—more specifically, to be watched until he passed the balloons.
A short time later, Jenkins confronted Miller about his claim of swallowing the balloons. According to Jenkins’ report, he asked Miller whether he had really done so, or “was just trying to be moved out of A-block.” Miller then claimed he was “not sure whether he had swallowed any balloons.”
“Cpl. Jenkins advised inmate Miller that we needed to know the truth, to make sure we were taking the appropriate steps,” Jenkins wrote. “At this time, Cpl. Jenkins noticed that inmate Miller began to act agitated with the questioning and bumped his head on the wall twice, while stating ‘I just don’t remember if I swallowed them or not.”
Haladej said she believed her son’s response was not meant to be taken literally, and that he may have been speaking flippantly to the deputy. Mays also granted the possibility.
According to his report, Jenkins instructed Miller to lay down on his bunk, and said he would return in a few minutes to see if he had passed anything after completing his rounds in another area of the facility.
At this point, the exact details of Miller’s actions become unclear.
Among the materials turned over to Haladej by the Sheriff’s Office was video footage of the isolation cell containing Miller which depicts his last moments; Haladej described the video’s contents but did not offer to show it to The Dagger for independent confirmation.
A holding cell at the Harford County Detention Center similar to those used for isolation.
According to her, a chair was placed in front of Miller’s cell for a deputy–likely Jenkins–to sit in while waiting for him to pass the balloons. Shortly after, a deputy begins delivering dinner trays to the isolation cells, she said, and Miller spends approximately five minutes with his hands over his eyes–praying, Haladej believes.
“When my son prayed, it was like that,” she said. “As soon as I saw his posture, I knew what he was doing.”
Additionally, inmates in isolation are under a constant watch, but in the absence of input from the Sheriff’s Office, it is not known whether that watch consisted solely of video monitoring, and whether video feeds in the nearby control room are always on each cell, or rotate between views of each.
In Haladej’s interpretation, her son believed that the deputy delivering trays would return shortly, and discover him hanging before too much time passed. However, according to information she received, she said that that deputy apparently “forgot something” and did not return in the timeframe Miller may have planned.
Haladej said the actual moment that her son climbed onto his bunk, tied the pieces of his shirt around the cell bars, and hung himself was not a violent act. She believes he intended to make it to the hospital.
“He didn’t jump,” she said. “It was so soft, he just stepped off.”
—-
It was Jenkins who found Miller hanging from the bars, though the exact timing of when that occurred is also unclear. According to his incident report, Jenkins’ brief conversation with Miller took place at approximately 4:35 p.m. Incident reports filed by eight other deputies place the time of an “all available officers” call to Isolation Cell 6 at between 4:45 and 4:50 p.m.
Jenkins in his report described reaching through the bars to attempt to support Miller’s body weight and take pressure off his neck, while simultaneously calling for backup. As other deputies arrived, they were unable to tear or untie the shirt, according to the various incident reports, until one ran to the Supervisor’s Office to get scissors. None of the deputies carried a cut-down tool, nor was one available nearby.
The same two Conmed nurses who treated Miller just more than a half-hour before also responded to the cell block. Miller was lowered to his bunk but was unresponsive and not breathing. An Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, device was also not present—two deputies reported dashing to medical to retrieve such a device as well as an oxygen tank. EMS personnel eventually arrived and took over Miller’s care, transporting him to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center at approximately 5:20 p.m.
Senior Sheriff’s Office staff were contacted between 5 p.m. and 5:35 p.m. that night according to one deputy’s report, including Col. Gregg Carlevaro, who had been appointed as the nominal supervisor of the jail in the absence of a warden at the time. Detectives and crime scene investigators also responded to the isolation cell block to gather evidence and interview corrections officers who were present at the time.
When Miller was admitted to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, he was “unresponsive to any stimuli,” according to hospital records. While on life support over the weekend, Miller was formally released from the custody of the Sheriff’s Office on Friday, Jan. 25. Such a step is commonly taken in dire medical situations to allow an inmate’s family to make choices regarding their treatment. According to court records, in a letter dated Feb. 1 to parole and probation authorities, Judge Carr wrote that he was informed on Jan. 26 that Miller was considered “clinically dead.”
On Monday, Jan. 28, Miller’s family elected to “pursue comfort measures,” according to his medical files, and spoke with a representative of The Living Legacy Foundation, an organ donation organization. He was removed from life support a short time later.
“It was bleak from the start,” Mays said of Miller’s prognosis. “It was almost like his soul was already gone, but he was hanging on.”
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The Harford County Sheriff’s Office provided basic details of the incident the day after Miller hung himself, but soon ceased responding to inquiries. Edward Hopkins, the agency’s chief spokesman at the time and now its colonel and second-in-command, on Saturday, Jan. 26 responded to questions from The Dagger with Miller’s age (but not name) and basic details of the reason for his incarceration and his suicide attempt.
Subsequent questions went unanswered until Jan. 29, 2013, when Hopkins said the agency had implemented a new policy at the direction of Sheriff Bane, under which it would provide initial details and refer all further requests to the county’s Law Department and McCord. The reason for the new policy, Hopkins said, was concerns over “possible future litigation” in such cases. Miller’s death was not made public until Feb. 6, when The Dagger confirmed his fate through the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore.
More than a year after her son’s death, Haladej leveled no small amount of blame at him for swallowing the fatal items in the first place.
“First and foremost, I hold my son responsible for his poor choice of body-packing,” she said. “I know he was in extreme pain, alone and afraid and still trying to get to the hospital.”
She claimed to have no plans to level a lawsuit against the county, Sheriff Jesse Bane, or the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, despite her attorney’s belief that they could bring a successful claim. Haladej said she is “not after Harford County’s money.”
“I don’t want their money, I don’t want death money,” she said. “I wanted the truth, once I had that, I felt so blessed to receive answers that all parents deserve but do not get.”
Still, perhaps not surprisingly, Haladej is unsparing in her criticism of the Harford County Detention Center and its staff.
“Norman needed an ‘A’ team,” she said. “I’m convinced if he had an ‘A’ team he had a chance. He had a ‘B’ team.”
However, she said she hopes to use her son’s death as impetus for change at the Detention Center, including additional training for corrections officers and the installation of equipment such as cut-down tools and AED devices in locations at which they can be more quickly accessed.
Mays said she believes the detention center’s staff hears complaints from inmates and deals with such frequent medical “complaints”—most probably made in the hopes of getting a few hours or days away in a more comfortable hospital room—that they may not give inmates with genuine medical emergencies the attention they deserve.
“They [corrections officers] don’t know what their circumstances are,” she said. “They’re so quick to judge…they don’t treat them as human beings. They’re just a ‘criminal.’”
In a corner of her bedroom, she still keeps an assembly of trinkets and photos of Miller, a small shrine to a man she loved, despite the difficulties.
“I’m going to be honest with you, I haven’t dealt with all of it,” Mays said. “Norman’s death has been too hard.”
Now I know why Harford county keeps electing this sheriff. Democrats love this stuff
There isn’t anything political about this piece. Why would the public, who has a sheriff on the Democratic Ticket no less, think this would be a reason to re-elect the sheriff? If anything, this article helps his Republican opponent, which is probably what was intended.
Let’s synopse this:
1. Guy gets arrested
2. Based on history gets jail sentence
3. Illegally smuggles goodies for inmates in by swallowing
4. Lies about that
5. Has stomach pain
6. Still lies
7. Has more stomach pain
8. Finally tells truth to nurs
9. But lies to officer who try to see if he needs more treatment
10. Shows zero suicidal ideation or history of attempts
11. Hangs himself.
12. Dies.
If there’s any flaw in this it is that the nurse didn’t suspect a blockage. But correct me if I’m wrong, the HCSO fired that medical group? However I see zero issue here with officers or detention center. Anyone who knows anything about suicide knows that it’s not generally broadcast when they mean it. I feel badly for his family but this article is just another attempt of the dagger to throw dirt where there’s no dirt. Pitiful.
Hello “concerned wife”: The question here is whether or not the nurse who diagnosed and treated Norm, was qualified to “diagnose and treat” an individual in such serious condition? He was never seen by a qualified doctor who treated physical medical conditions. When our bodies are sick, we call a doctor not a nurse.
There was an officer involved with both of Norm’s trips to medical department who did NOT agree with their decision. Do you not think that officer, who admitted that he had a different opinion and in his mind he did not agree, should have taken his intuition and judgement call to another authority? Are you not concerned about the CO’s lack of training, proper tools and equipment to be successful at their job — is not a contributing factor here? You’ve accused the Dagger of “an attempt to throw dirt where there’s no dirt”: The Dagger took nearly all of its reported information from the documented reports written by the staff and Con Med’s employees at the Harford County Detention Center. Are we not to believe what those many employees documented is the truth? You asked for someone to research and dig out the truth; now that it’s been given to you, you fail to see what the important issues are and show a grave reluctance to accept it for what it is and go from there. We should feel motivated to secure the needed changes and protect the sanctity of human life for future people within that system. It’s the humane thing to do……..
More negative politics. It is time the Republican Party grows up. I wonder want is next from them. It is ashame that Miller died from his own selfish act. It is unfortunate that the Republican Candidate wants to re-appoint the Warden that was in charge when many of the suicides took place in the detention center. The Harford County Detention Center has one of the lowest suicide rates in the State of Maryland and the Country.
This seems to be an investigative reporting piece by the Dagger’s staff, not a political message or letter from a candidate for office.
Hello “More Politics says”: Again, this article does NOT have a political thrust; it addresses the ongoing concerns regarding the deaths of inmates under the care of the Harford County Detention Center. Policy and procedures are gravely lacking, proper training of the staff is needed, appropriate tools and equipment (cut down tools, AED and Oxygen equipment did not exist near segregation cells), and all are needed. Why would anyone not want what was needed to save a life? Regardless of a person’s mistakes everyone’s life is worth saving and it is their job to make every valid attempt to do so. I’m saying: Give the CO;s what they need to be successful in their efforts instead of passing the blame and guilt onto the lower level staff. Stop the high ranking administrators from blaming and scapegoating the someone else for the responsibility and accountability that they should be obligated to take.
Statistics of inmate deaths are calculated proportionately by the number of population held within that institution. HCDC is a “LOW” level population center and presents with a high death rate for such a limited amount of people. You dub it as “one of the lowest suicide rates in Maryland”. That would be due to HCDC being a small facility with less inmates than larger facilities.
Regardless, when we can determine that unacceptable problems exist at a facility, we do the right thing, we fix them — only then do we have hope and assurance of a better tomorrow.
Thank You — Norman’s Mother, Theresa
Immediately following the November 4th elections, my husband and I will be changing our political affiliation from republicans to non affiliated. Tired of politics and the ongoing negativity coming from the local politicians and my current party.
Theresa, no mother should lose their child, sorry for your loss.
Why wait? Can’t you do it now?
While this article does seem untimely for the upcoming election I don’t see what it has to do with the Republican Party in Harford County. The person providing information for this article lives in Pennsylvania and has nothing to do with Harford County politics.
Barbara, please read the first comment on this page from Samantha. That’s what started this. A total Republican Maroon!
perfectly stated
Nothing to see here. A gets locked up and kills himself. No great loss to society. Mother tries to cash in on POS sons suicide. Gahler crowd goes wild.
“Gahler crowd goes wild.” – For an article that wasn’t written for any obvious political motives, you guys on here certainly want to make it a Republican talking point. Why would the Gahler crowd go wild over a suicide at HCDC? Why would the Dagger publish such an article 16 days prior to the election? I read Cahill’s statement in the article that disavows any political purpose, but I do find its timeliness somewhat suspicious. Couldn’t have waited 17 days to publish it? That would have took care of any political claims, wouldn’t it……..
Pretty sad that is what spin you take on this. Republican or Democrat Sheriff makes no difference to the families of the people who died. You have never had to set with a family who has just lost a loved one. What the person was doesn’t matter. What they did doesn’t matter. What matters is that they are gone. Soul Crusher your name is perfect. Good guys and bad guys have family who care. I don’t think anyone on either side of this election are sitting back and rejoicing over this article and the deaths at the jail. Dealing with death is a nasty business. The cops you trash will go to the ends of the earth to save any life good or bad. So stop you nonsense on this story about political agendas okay.
Once again, Marc Eaton, you have now invoked the wrath of the SoulCrusher. Did you not see my first comment that states, there is nothing political about this story. Then some maroon republicunt friends of yours started the debate. Not I said the Crusher. Marc Eaton, you are about a whiny little tadpole of a man. The ONLY question I got, is why did Cahill decide to publish this when it is this close to an election. It was obviously not for $hits and giggles. You are a worm Eaton. A racist worm at that. I already proved that via your own TWITTER account. Those cops I belittle, broke the law and violated the Constitution of the United States, WORM. You got a problem with that, then you know what to do. Stop being the little Domadick that you are and start being a man, Worm!
Well there comes some sleepless nights knowing I upset you.
One more thing WORM, those Cops I trash don’t care anything about anyone. They are only interested in that Cottage Industry known as Drug Forfeitures. They do everything because they are motivated by money, period. They are not trying to protect the public, they do it to increase their pay. Why don’t you ask Sean Marston how much his team was getting on COMMISSION, for the raids they did? I got a better idea, why don’t you look up their property values on SDAT and see if it coincides with their income, MARC! I’ve already done it and I will officially allege that there isn’t one member on the Narcotics team that came to my condo that can afford any of their properties on salary alone.
You mean like I got commission on all tickets I wrote. You are delusional their is no pay incentives to make arrests in HCSO. Let it go already, you did a crime, got busted and plead guilty. Go on and stop blaming the police for your actions. I bet your living room and bedroom walls are just covered with newspaper clips of this stuff. Enough already.
Wait, hold up – they get a piece of the drug forfeiture action?? Do you have a website source or something for this?
They are able to afford the large homes and high value cars because they work lots of overtime. Get a grip here, they don’t get a commission. It’s overtime pay and they can get as much as they want.
You’re just mad because you don’t have the same great deal going for you.
Sure do, here is one stating they receive “bonuses for arrests and seizures”. Its going on all over the country, even in the DEA itself……http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/4558:former-narcotics-detective-admits-drug-planting-common
PLEASE NOTICE the reference to High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), which is exactly what was announced recently about the I95 Corridor, Harford County was even specifically mentioned. I don’t need to provide a link to that as it was announced right here on the DAGGER!
Here’s a link of why you should tell your children not to help police involving drugs…..http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/09/03/the-throwaways
When are you all going to learn the TRUTH? Do you all think I just make this stuff up?
Marc Eaton, you keep telling me to let it go. How many years ago was it that Sheriff Bane allegedly wronged you? Have you let this go? Obviously not! Marc, you have been exposed as a liar and a racist, right here on the Dagger! Everyone, please be sure to watch his September 10th rant on race baiting! https://twitter.com/Marc_Eaton
Here’s another good one. Police in Hunt County, Texas, ALL received a $26,000.00 bonus from the County’s forfeiture fund! http://www.offthegridnews.com/2013/08/16/police-seizing-cash-and-property-from-citizens-without-charges/
While the police may have received a monetary bonus they received it from the County after the forfeited assets had been placed in the general fund.
That has not happened here in our county. We get the money in the form of budget authorizations placed in the HCSO budget for overtime compensation. There is plenty of overtime money authorized for us and that’s how we get the money to afford the finer things that you see us have.
Yeah, I know, you guys don’t get nothing do you? http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/blog/2010/04/baltimore_police_detective_ple.html
Apparently, this is how its done in Maryland………
http://www.drtomoconnor.com/3220/3220lect02c.htm
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2010/jun/15/secret-justice-criminal-informants-and-americas-underground-legal-system/
http://www.nacdl.org/CHAMPION/ARTICLES/98may03.htm
Soul Crusher you need help. Please get back on your meds asap…
Ahhh, Multiple Personality Marc, I’ll take my Lexapro if you take your Prozac…….
Hello Mr. None Says: If you “see nothing in this” you are blinded to dignity and human compassion for others and that’s what makes part of the human race That is the category in which you have placed yourself! To make the statement “No great loss to society” goes far beyond your limited knowledge of Norman Michael. You see Sir., I know all the good stuff about Norm. Refreshing your memory: Norm knew his organs were valuable due to his rare blood type — and upon his death, Norm license reflected a heart designating he was an “Organ Doaner”. Within one hour 3 different hospital in 3 different areas claimed 4 of Norm’s organs. You see Mr. None Says, Norman always looked our for the next guy — no matter where he lived. You can imagine the love and blessings that fell upon those 3 people knowing they all got a piece of his heart because it was a good one. Further, you’re just wrong Sir, when you imply that Norman contributed nothing to society — tell that to those 3 doner reciipiants and their families, and to the many, friends, neighbors, co-workers, Church family and loved ones who’ve walked a hard road to find hard truths because there were many admirable qualities in Norm that many would attest to. The Man always gave forward to others.
Mr. “None Says, I assure you that the only “cash” being spent here to bring you these truths, is MINE!
Nothing is free in today’s world — and getting to the truth had a high cost. I found out early on that if it regards “inmate deaths inside a facility”, getting inside does not come cheap. Everybody pays: the facility, the staff, the inmates, the County, the citizens — and when it’s a death by suicide — it’s the family that pays the highest cost. Their policy dictates that they will avoid the family at all times. No explanations, no answers, no comments, no communication. There is nowhere for the family to go with all that — and that’s what sends families to attorneys.
As far as the “Gahler crowd goes wild” — I pray Sir., the whole crowd on both sides goes wild over this lack of justice for some in their county, the lack of qualified leadership, for some in their County. I hope that both sides equally see the importance of maintaining the highest dignity for all human life.
is not not Gahler choice for new Warden,one in the same who was the warden during many of these deaths?
Hello Mr. Barney: If you are referring to Mr. Capasso (I think), that man has experienced 25 years in the correctional system — he’d bring a lot of experience to the table. Perhaps he couldn’t be effective in his past role because he was not “empowered” to make the decisions and implement change that were needed?
Let’s not forget the three steps before your number one…
a. Chooses to break the law by driving without license. First time? Doubtful.
b. Commits traffic violation resulting in accident.
c. Chooses to break law by leaving scene of accident. Because children were taunting him? Doggy? Seriously?
1. Guy gets arrested…
This story is fraught with a myriad of assumptions and suppositions by the fiancé and the mother. And WTF is up with “killed himself trying to live”? Seems to me he killed himself trying to die. What I failed to pick out in all of this is the oh my God, this hurts so bad I’m gonna kill myself part…
insight is right on! this was a troubled man,and was Capaso in charge?
“When Mays went to visit him at the detention center on Wednesday, Jan. 23, she said Miller complained of having problems with his stomach, and said he had not yet passed the balloons.”
Is this saying Mays was aware of Miller’s breaking the law by smuggling contraband and didn’t report it? If so, what might have happened differently if she’d told authorities?
Who cares why this guy died. He was a common criminal who died because he was again committing an illegal act. Should we be feeling sorry for him? I mean really, why should we give a damn. He has saved the taxpayer money by not having to take care of him while he is in jail.
Sorry the guy died but it seems like he was on a highway to hell anyway. As usual all of the people who should have helped him are the ones whining the loudest. Hey folks, if you don’t like jail stop breaking the law.
“Desperate for relief, he shrugged off his prison-issued shirt, tore it into strips, tied it around the top of one of the cell’s bars, looped the other end around his neck, and stepped off the edge of his cot.”
What a huge assumption??!!!!!! Did he leave a letter saying he was killing himself due to the pain? Come on writer–you’re better than that.
One thing for sure, we will never know for sure what happened because the DC staff didn’t see anything until it was too late. He may have done exactly as described!
Most of the people posting on here have no compassion. I know Theresa personally and I know she has been working incessantly to find out what went wrong at the Detention Center. She has contacted the Aegis, the Sheriff and many other entities in an attempt to get some answers. If there is a “timing coincidence”, there is no one to blame but the Sheriff for not answering Theresa when she first contacted him last year. She is doing what any good parent would do in a similar situation which is trying to get answers. All of you passing judgment need to understand that this is a mother in pain. As someone said earlier, Theresa lives in Pennsylvania, she has no horse in this Sheriff’s race, she simply wants to right a wrong. Please leave your comments about her deceased son to yourself.
Her son was a 44 year old adult who made stupid choices that cost him his life. He didn’t check into the Hilton and get poor service, he was in the detention center because he broke the law. Perhaps if mommy would have been a little more concerned he wouldn’t have had a public defender at his trial and been sent to jail in the first place.
The detention center didn’t kill Norman… Norman killed Norman.
“she simply wants to right a wrong”
What is there was no “Wrong?”
If there was no wrong, why did the Sheriff fire the medical contractor that the DC had. I believe an earlier commenter stated that Conmed (the contract medical company) was replaced at the DC. If medical personnel were informed that he had swallowed two balloons and had not passed them in a week along with severe pain in his stomach and abdomen, then it is time for medical intervention not a laxative!
Conmed remains the medical care provider at the Harford County Detention Center; their contract with the Sheriff’s Office runs through June 2018. I’ve added that information to the above story.
So you mean Union Member, uh I mean Marc Eaton, is wrong?
Soul, what is the secret to growing good plants? Do you use Miracle Grow potting soil along with Miracle Grow fertilizer or are your plants strictly organic?
Now Marc, you know I would never do that again………Miracle Grow works just fine for soil. I’d recommend you to grow’em in Dog $hit tho, you know all about that stuff don’t you.
Thank you, my tomato plants did terrible this year. I will try that next year. When you put the dollar sign in place of the s you are correct. I made good money pumping poop. Remember everyone has to poop and there has to be someone out there to clean it up. It was kinda like being a cop, you take crap from people but you get paid better to do it. Love our chats, I am so glad that you have decided to be friends with me…..a retired cop. You are growing and I am proud of you.
And they say I need Meds, Jeez…….
Seriously, Marc if you use dolomite in your soil it will make your plants grow better next time. Dolomite will neutralize the PH. PH is the secret to growing all plants. Certain plants like Azalea’s grow in a more Acid Rich soil. Dig a hole where you had your plants last year, At the bottom of the hole dig two trenches the length of the hole. On one side fill that trench with dolomite and then the other with Dog $hit, or any fertilizer, I was just being my usual smarta$$ self. Fill the whole back in and grow right in the space where that hole was. Water as usual and with tomatoes you should start using your miracle grow tomato formula when you start seeing fruit. It will grow great plants. Try to get some BeefSteak tomato seeds they work really well with this system. Or just go and get an Earthbox, it works the same way………
Stay on topic or your posts will be deleted.
Can you say frivolous, stupid and insane lawsuit. Unfortunatly Harford County will settle this one just like they did with the bozo that crashed his car fleeing from the police.
In one of these images guy looks like a roid king. Was he using steroids at the time of his death?
This is the most one sided article that I have ever read in the dagger. Why does the dagger continue to write one sided articles about the detention center. It does take into consideration that he was arrested, transported to the DC and put on a watch for swallowing something. Does the dagger know how many people are “cared” for at the DC. This article was a waste of my time.I’m sure the family believes that the DC did everything wrong in treating their son. He should be up for sainthood. It’s a shame that someone died, but the jail did not hang him. He made the misfortune of trying to get attention in the wrong way. So when you print something about the DC, please be accurate and get the other side of the story. There are a lot of fine officer’s that work in conditions that the normal person would have a problem.
There’s a link at the top of the page if you want to contact the staff with news or be interviewed.
The people who made comments this is about politics WOW..This letter was written months ago with no response.This man was a human being who made mistakes as all of us do .Not one of you can say you never broke the law ?You have went through a red light ,not stopped at a stop sign lots of things I am sure even police you think your above the law.Norman made a mistake he came clean you give him a laxative NO you send him to the hospital when your care has not helped and he suffers in pain for days….You do not put him on 24 hr watch and then not watch him and then let him die.All of you …If this was your Son ,Grandson,Cousin Family your reaction would be different .How many deaths have to happen at the detention center .No warden .Why I ask. Why did this family and others have to suffer a loss of a family member in a small county detention center.The ones running your mouth a law suit you can check that out there is no law suit.BUT I ENCOURAGE ONE TO MRS HALADEJ and her family
You make the comment about the detention center as if these people can just walk out and get medical treatment. The inmates are committed to the jail, via judiciary, and cannot make decisions for themselves. Most people think of the good in people and not the bad. Sorry your son killed himself, but he wasn’t at day camp. He was in an adult facility.Where is the family when the person needs help before getting locked up? I’m sure the support network was not all there and only some of the family could have cared less. I have had members in the detention center and not just for a few days. So don’t talk about if it was your son, daughter, grandson. We didn’t put these people in jail and it’s time to grow up and accept the fact that there are people in this world that could less whether people are treated fairly at the jail. I’m sure the dagger has done an article on the better side of the jail, but then trash articles get more attention. Oh and he tried to bring contraband into the jail and get away with it. He may have come clean, but actions have consequences.
No the medical team should of sent him to the hospital when you have not had a bowel movement for days and your given laxative and still do not have a bowel movement some thing is wrong .The medical team made a poor decision.And Mr .Banes has made a very poor decision not having a warden and running HCDC his self how rediculous and who gets the wardens pay Mr .Banes ?You are a very unfeeling cruel individual family’s have lost loved ones. Oh they broke the law they deserve to die .REALY ! ! Unbeleavable ! And this is about politics ?Mrs Haladej is from PA she gains nothing in Hartford county politics
They did send him to medical. TWICE. The nurses and doctors cleared him. So what is it you believe that the non medically trained correctional officers should’ve done? This man shows a history of poor decisions. It’s no one’s fault he died but his. He lied when it suited him, his own mother knew the situation yet told no one to help him alleviate pain. So although j understand she’s hurting, and as a mother can’t imagine how hard that is- she too did nothing to help him. Norman killed Norman. That’s no one else fault.
The mother did not know the situation .most of you need to think before you post
Bane is such a loser they’ve taken his sandwich off the Savona menu.
How can you blame the Sheriff for someone taking their own life? This guy was a POS and if you want to place the blame on someone place it on the dead guy. All you people that want to blame the Sheriff and elect that cry baby to the post should remember that his only leadership position was with the State police at Benson Barracks. How many people was he in charge of 15 or 20. That makes him qualified?
This message is brought to you by the Campaign to reelect Sheriff L J Bane. Compassion and caring since 2006.
Hello to the Citizens of Harford County: The answers to many of your initial questions came from many months of reading, talking to staff and former inmates (some of which were there at the time of Norman’s death),and attaining reports from staff that were involved with Norman’s stay at the Harford County Detention Center. After speaking to the Baltimore Sun, who owns the Aegis, I chose the Dagger as a media source to address the findings of my many months of research into the HCDC and Con Med (who was the medical services provider at HCDC). I found the Dagger’s journalism to be fair and objective with the only editor who has attempted to “shine the light” on the broken system at HCDC. My timing was not based on your upcoming election or either candidate. It was the fact that I had completed my process and I was ready to share. I wanted to give Sheriff Bane ample opportunity to respond — over the last six months, but he chose not to. He obviously did not feel it was necessary or that my son’s death warranted a response. Over the next few weeks, I will remain open to dignified questions regarding Norm’s death and my findings. I chose from the beginning, not to bring a law suit against Harford County. I wanted the truth about what my son experienced there and what led to his death. All parents want that — especially when it is death by suicide. In prison, there are predators and prey; Norm decided that he wasn’t going in as prey.
SUICIDE is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain. You have more pain than you can cope with in that moment — pain that is just not bearable. When pain exceeds pain coping resources the result is suicide. It’s neither wrong or right and it’s not a defect of character. It is the unbalance of pain versus coping resources. Norm could find no way to reduce his immediate pain and had no resources to increase his coping mechanisms.
People commit suicide because they are seeking relief from pain, because they are frightened or angry. The reaction is about their fear. They are traumatic feelings of extreme emotional distress.
The more I read, the more convinced I was that my son entered a broken system at the Detention Center; I wanted to know how that broken system impacted on Norm in such a negative way and encouraged him to hang himself. The majority of information supplied to you here has come from the documentation that the attorneys attained from the lawyer representing the HCDC. I was given over 100 pages of reports, comments, medical records and responder insights from anyone who dealt with Norm during his eight days there. The attorneys also attained a copy of the video of that day on constant watch of cell #6 where Norman had been placed. It’s certainly a “hard watch” especially for a mother, but a necessary one in determining exactly what happened to my son. Even though they were not all consistent, it was the handwritten reports by the CO’s and medical staff that held the truths and shed light on the unanswered questions. Were there mistakes made by the HCDC staff? Yes there were. Were there mistakes made by Con Med’s medical staff? Yes there were.
My goal has always been to be a seeker of the truth. Instead of a law suit against Harford County, I decided to share the truths about the broken system at the Detention Center and it’s insufficient leadership; to bring to the attention of the citizens the weakness’ that exist there. It is my desire to be a part of securing the needed changes in how we medically treat those that are incarcerated there, proper training, tools and equipment to respond to those who are in grave need.
I feel that no matter who is elected, or who sits in that seat — there are serious weakness’ in their system on how they respond to these life and death situations. Someone has to take the responsibility and accountability of securing the changes that are needed at HCDC. Good people do not want to see any person die needlessly when it can be prevented. If staff are not given the right training, tools and equipment — they can only work with what they have and they become a “B or C” Team; and when it comes to life and death situations, we always want to strive for an “A” Team.
The first mistake was made by Norman prior to entering the HCDC; it was lacking proper knowledge of what he was attempting to do, it was poor judgement. it was motivated by fear and a plan to protect himself against the dark side of jail. It was that act of fear and preparation to protect himself in a hostile environment that contributed to his death. Prior to entering HCDC, Norman completely changed his appearance to someone that his family did not recognize. It was part of his plan to make it through a bad situation. His family was not aware of the “body packing” until the 1st night at the hospital. His fiance was not aware of the heightened danger until her only visit with him the day before.
What the Maryland law tells us is that: It is the responsibility of the Sheriff and his staff to “ASSURE” a safe environment for all staff and inmates at the HCDC — even if it is to protect them from themselves. Norman was not given that “safe” environment on different levels; his death could have, and should have been prevented.
Again, over the next few weeks II will do my best to enlighten the public with the information that has taken me since January 2013 to confirm as truth. I will answer all “dignified” questions as honestly as I can.
To all of the families who have lost a loved one there, I know and understand the difficult journey that you have had to travel. It is with that understanding and compassion that I encourage all of you to become active in: 1st) getting your answers to the questions that haunt you and 2nd) involve yourselves in securing the positive changes needed at the Harford County Detention Center. We have a duty to help to “right the wrongs” that exist there, a duty to not see these deaths be swept under the rug, a duty to future inmates, their families and staff to secure a safe environment for them, a duty to ourselves as family members and most importantly — a duty to those who have died in that broken system.
“In prison, there are predators and prey; Norm decided that he wasn’t going in as prey.”
So Norm was a predator.
Hello “Mr. H”: Norm decided he was not going to be devoured by the predators. Every jail has a dark side and how dark it gets depends on who is housed there. Prior to going in he took what he felt were precautions towards the “young bucks -or- banshees” as he referred to them. He altered his physical appearance to fit into the population. It disturbed him to hear that the young ones had thrown a mixture of human feces and urine in the face of an older man. He felt that CO;s should have been all over that. He felt that staff monitoring was not up to code and that things were happening that shouldn’t. He described inmates suffering through withdraw and felt they needed more help than they were getting. Norm was about “helping” not hurting — but he knew he couldn’t stand up to them because of his physical pain.
Note Mr. H: That I take this information from an 8 page letter Norm wrote while there, his calls to his attorney and reports from HCDC.
This is all just very odd. I have a 30 yo co worker who spent 90 days in HCDC in 2013 for a drug charge and his description of what goes on inside is vastly different from Norms. Did norm watch the shawshank redemption a lot?
It depends on where you are at in there S dorm is a easy dorm u can even go out side .Other dorms are different .Some inmates don’t see the light of day .They have to sleep in what they call boats because there’s not a enough beds.Medical attention takes for ever to receive .I’m glad your friend had a OK experience but HCDC has issues big time …..No Warden…November a Warden finally but has no background in a correctional facility . I will be praying for him and all the inmates and the family’s that lost their family member . How dare some of you speak about the Deceased as you are calling them POS ( piece of shi_t ! ) Wow …Your in my prayers also Sad to be so cruel …
There are plenty of beds. All of those additional beds are located in the new expanded facility. The problem is, Sheriff Bane has not opened up the new expanded facility that has been completed for over three years.
With all due respect Theresa lots of people have pain…ask a double amputee just returning from Afghanistan or Iraq, ask the cop who was just axed in the back of the head by the nut in NY yesterday or anybody who’s had life threatening cancer or a family member witnessing a loved one who was devoured by disease – lots of people endure indescribable pain without hanging themselves. Your son had issues beyond having a rubber balloon stuck in his gut – he as with the others from the suicide list you point at as evidence of the outrageous problems at the detention center, were there because they were irresponsible, druggies, thieves, louts and lazies who for whatever reason just weren’t cooked properly in the first place and that’s why so many of them end up as suicides. My suggestion would be to make them sit naked in a cell, with no sheets or pillows or eating utensils, etc. because any of those things could end up helping somebody off themselves because frankly we can’t afford to have a personal guard to watch 24-7 each individual inmate.
Sounds like Norman’s elevator didn’t quite make it to the top floor. I’ve been in some painful and tough situations before and I’ve never contemplated suicide. I love being alive too much. When I leave this earth, it will be kicking and screaming, not helping it happen. You see, I know I’m going to Hell, there is a special place for me there, its called the throne…….
One of the things lacking at the detention center is having enough personnel to meet the demands on the facility operation. Another would be having leadership which focuses on the security and safety of the officers and inmates. NOT keeping valuable personnel busy on ridiculous little projects and tasks that have little to do with making advancements in providing for a safe environment. The correctional deputies and correctional civilian personnel do the absolute best given the circumstances. There is no better institution ! Want to talk about what bane is lacking ? Bring it ! I could go on and on and on. 1st example : Bane spends all his time worried about decisions that he never actually makes and what line of crap he is going to feed the community groups of edgewood. I say edgewood because he ignores the rest of the county. Hard for me to stay on topic with so much to say.
most of your comments are sad calling people pos , they deserve to die.You all need to beg for gods forgiveness .I pray this does not happen to you or any one you love .Have any of you suffered a blockage ? Yes Mr .Miller made a very bad decision and died from it.Mr .Miller suffered great pain My son has 2 disease’s that have caused him a blockage the pain was horrible and he was hospitalized and was close to death if he was not hospitalized.The detention center does not treat people who come in on medications they have to put in for treatment that takes for ever they can have seizures for not continuing their meds .if detoxing with out proper care you can die.Dogs are treated better then these people .I’m sure there’s people awaiting trial who are innocent .3 deaths in one year some thing is wrong .Wake up people.Sheriff Bane had a responcibility to have a warden at H.C.D.C running the facility .Where has the money for the warden been going ? This is about people dieing in a small county detention center 3 in one year …Thank you Erin for doing this article even though idiots are responding .Like I said its not some one they know or they would be singing a different tune .I’m so sorry for this family’s loss and all the family’s due to negligence .That’s what it is not politics you bunch of idiots. And the detention center is not a great place to be…Its not the guards its who oversees it…
Agreed. Prayers are with you and your family. Just one thing, the officers at the detention center are correctional deputies – trained professionals, not guards. Common mistake but they seldom get the credit due.
Theresa, you sound like a very intelligent personable woman. norman was very lucky to have you on his side, very blessed to have you as mom. i am amazed at you composure, impressed at your resilience. indeed, if those posting here had a son in jail for any reason i doubt they would be ridiculing and adding to your pain. im sorry that assholes have no compassion. i was at the detention ctr. and i know it is hell. the officers there treat all inmates like criminals, and most haven’t even been to trial yet, which means they’re innocent. we know that is a joke, the dc is a business. theyre all about saving money, and that means not paying for essentials, like a warden? the maximum cell blocks are pure hell. they are monsters there. one does not sleep for days upon entering, the freaks take great joy in making newcomers feel like they’re in hell, intimidation is they’re drug. a can of sardines have more room to move and prob smells about the same, no privacy, none. one night they threw a blanket over the camera and started to fight. two inmates proceeded to beat the shit out each other. no one saw anything. no guards, no response, just fists and blood. no one was monitoring the most violate cell block there. luckily i got out of there and made it to a block that had a full time 24 hr officer. and so, the worst cell block had no monitoring, and the block with the most freedom, if you can call it that? had 24 hr supervision. now i know jail ain’t no party n shouldn’t be but, a human being has rights even if he has made bad decisions, oh that’s if your not one of the perfect people above. I’d apologize for them but I’d rather just kick they’re teeth in. the world is a bad place full of bad people. I’m so very sorry that you had to find out like this. I didn’t know your son but I wish I did. no, he wasn’t perfect but then who is? your intelligent none vendictive posts where very much worth the read. heaven is full of imperfect people, im sure ill see norman there one day, God bless you….TAKE THEYRE MONEY GIRL!!!!!
Oh no, before you start farting, yes i used the wrong their