Tony Mitchell: Deceased inmate’s family claims he was tasered, kept in jail cell dubbed ‘freezer’
JASPER, ALABAMA: The family of Tony Mitchell, an Alabama inmate, is pursuing legal action, claiming he was tasered and confined for 14 days in a temporary holding cell known as the "freezer" by local sheriff’s deputies, ultimately leading to his death.
Mitchell's revised death certificate categorizes his death as a homicide, citing hypothermia and "sepsis resulting from infected injuries obtained during incarceration and medical neglect" as the causes.
Why was Tony Mitchell incarcerated?
Concerns about Mitchell's mental state prompted his cousin to contact the Walker County Sheriff's Department for help on January 12, 2023.
After unsuccessful attempts to reach anyone, he called 911 for a wellness check and an ambulance, expressing fears of his mental breakdown due to years of methamphetamine addiction.
Upon deputies' arrival at Mitchell's Carbon Hill, Ala home, he “immediately brandished a handgun, and fired at least one shot at deputies before retreating into a wooded area behind his home.”
He was arrested, leading to his confinement in the jail cell. Fourteen days later, Mitchell lost his life under disputed circumstances.
Margaret Mitchell's civil complaint unveils alleged inhumane conditions
Margaret Mitchell, his mother, filed a civil complaint last year, seeking justice for her 33-year-old son's alleged mistreatment at Walker County Jail in Jasper, Alabama.
The complaint alleges that Mitchell was confined in a cold, bare, concrete "drunk tank" meant for brief holding, with inadequate facilities.
It claims he suffered from frigid temperatures, was denied proper medical treatment for taser wounds and drug addiction, and faced a makeshift toilet—a small hole in the ground.
Mitchell died on January 26, 2023.
Medical records raise concerns over inmate's abnormal temperature
Medical records transcribed into the complaint reveal an emergency room physician's puzzlement over Mitchell's rectal temperature of 72°F (22°C) during incarceration.
“I am not sure what circumstances the patient was held in incarceration but it is difficult to understand a rectal temperature of 72° F 22° centigrade while someone is incarcerated in jail,” an emergency room physician wrote in the medical records transcribed into the complaint, adding, “I do not know if he could have been exposed to a cold environment," reported People.
The family's attorney, Jon C Goldfarb, states that they are seeking answers about Mitchell's final days. “The family looks forward to moving forward with this case,” Goldfarb stated.
“And getting answers to not only what happened to Tony Mitchell, but why it happened and what can be done to make sure this never happens to anyone else.”
Among those held responsible in the complaint are Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith, Jail Administrator Justin White, 13 corrections officers, and two jail-staffed nurses.
The complaint includes timestamps from leaked jailhouse videos, allegedly leading to the firing of a concerned correctional officer who shared them with the family.
Internet express shock and disgust over Tony Mitchell's tragic fate
A user commented on Facebook, "This is beyond words. What is wrong with anyone that would do that to another human being? This is horrific."
Another added, "It is so sad how cruel humans are!"
A third claimed, "So very sad. It’s terrible what was done to that poor man. I hope whoever did this gets punished."
"Sounds like it's the Sheriffs turn in the cell," read a tweet.
"They better fear their karma when they get judged," added another.
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