The director of the Baltimore County jail defended his staff?s attention to a dying man as appropriate Wednesday, even as outside agencies said they were looking into the death.
James O?Neill, administrator at the detention center, said he investigated the death of Michael Payne, 45, of Halethorpe, and determined no disciplinary action was needed.
“We send people to the hospital when it?s medically determined or medically necessary,” O?Neill said. “If people are negligent around here, I deal with them. Can I second-guess the medical decisions made? Maybe. But that?s a Monday morning quarterback-type thing.”
Several outside agencies said they wanted to meet with Baltimore County officials, after The Examiner?s article on Payne?s death raised questions about the medical care he received. (Click here to watch the video and hear Luke Broadwater’s account of Payne’s death.)
Carl Snowden, director of civil rights for the Maryland attorney general, said he was taking a look at the incident, and Justice Maryland is demanding answers.
“This is not acceptable,” said Kimberly Haven, director of the prison advocacy group. “If these problems really are pervasive, there need to be changes and there need to be changes now.”
Payne died of a heart attack Dec. 30. Under close watch, he was supposed to be checked every 15 minutes, but a surveillance video shows it took more than two hours for staff to enter his room after he stopped moving.
Jail records show Payne ? a father of four held on $10,000 bail for a disorderly-conduct charge ? required medical treatment four times since Dec. 27 but was never taken to a hospital.
Baltimore County spokesman Don Mohler said County Executive Jim Smith has the utmost confidence in O?Neill and plans to review his full report.
The county is spending nearly $6 million on inmate care this year.
“Why are we spending all this money on health care for the inmates … if they are not getting the attention we are paying for?” asked Councilman Sam Moxley, a Catonsville Democrat.
Examiner Staff Writer Jaime Malarkey contributed to this report.
