Melodie Phelps, News Editor
CNHI
7-28-10 — An inmate at the Wayne County Detention Center was flown to a Nashville, Tenn. hospital on Tuesday, July 13, after attempting to hang himself in his cell.
The name of the inmate has not been released, but it was confirmed that he is a 24-year-old male from Wayne County.
According to Jailer Ray Upchurch, the inmate was discovered at 1:41 p.m. by a deputy jailer. He had attempted to hang himself using a piece of jail-issued clothing, according to Upchurch.
The inmate was taken from the Detention Center to the Wayne County Hospital by EMS and was later flown to Vanderbilt Hospital, according to Upchurch.
Upchurch stated that the man had been released that day and then brought back in to the Detention Center. During processing, Upchurch said that the inmate was asked a series of questions, including if he was suicidal. He stated that he was not suicidal, according to Upchurch. Then, the inmate was assessed by the nurse on site at the Detention Center, where he again stated he was not suicidal.
Upchurch said that this is part of standard procedure for every inmate that is brought into the facility. He also stated that the inmate was checked on three times within one hour, which is more than the once per hour that is required.
The inmate was in a cell that was occupied by one other person, according to Upchurch.
He commended the efforts of the deputy jailer as well as medical staff at the jail and their quick actions following the attempted suicide.