Deschutes Jail video shows final hours of inmate’s life

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel released jail video Tuesday showing the last few hours of an inmate’s life that ended in December.

Approximately four hours of jail recordings capture 31-year-old Edwin Mays and jail staff from the time Mays was booked, until responding EMTs tried to save his life.

The sheriff’s office has stated that Mays died of a meth overdose from drugs he consumed prior to being booked. Earlier this month, officials said Mays’ blood showed amounts of meth off the measurement scale.

The incident, and the timeline the video portrays has convinced Hummel to ask the state to step in and review the matter.

“I determined for all parties involved — the Mays family, the officers and the public — that the best thing to do would be to have an independent look at it by the attorney general’s office,” Hummel said Tuesday.

NewsChannel 21 has viewed much of the jail tape and has compiled the following timeline:

At approximately 4:45 p.m., Mays is booked into jail and seen sitting on a bench — sometimes rocking back and forth.

It’s not too long before Mays is seen acting strangely in his booking cell, sometimes pacing, waving his arms, and even pounding on the glass. Jail staff are seen and heard laughing at Mays and mimicking his movements and expressions.

One deputy says, “He’s doing the zombie. Look at him.”

An inmate sharing a cell with Mays is removed from the holding area.

Shortly after 7 p.m., a deputy walks by Mays’ cell and then says, “He’s (Mays) saying he needs to go to the hospital.” Another deputy responds: “He probably does.”

However, the video shows Mays doesn’t receive any medical care for more than an hour from that point.

Around 8:30 p.m., the recording shows Mays lying on the floor of his cell, and deputies soon go to check on him.

Just before 9 p.m., jail staff begins performing CPR on Mays and EMTs show up shortly after. They try to save Mays’ life, but end those efforts shortly before 9:30 p.m.

Mays is pronounced dead at the scene.

Sheriff’s Capt. Shane Nelson, who oversees jail operations and has been picked to become sheriff in July, said Tuesday he cannot comment on the details of the video tape or Mays’ health condition, citing the ongoing investigation.

Nelson did call Mays’ death a “sad and tragic situation” and said the jail is cooperating with authorities.

“We are going to fully cooperate with the Department of Justice investigation, just as we have fully cooperated with the District Attorney’s Office investigation,” Nelson said.

NewsChannel 21 reached out to family members of Mays, who said they were hit hard by the announcement.

Mays’ uncle, Bill Mays, said the family’s attorney has viewed the tape and offered to show the family the video. Bill Mays said family members have chosen not too watch it because of the pain it would cause.

“We don’t want to see it for a while,” Bill Mays said. “It would be a shock. It is a revelation for us on how bad the situation at the jail was.”

NewsChannel 21 learned the jail has certain policies and procedures it’s required to follow if an inmate is suspected to be intoxicated.

When inmates are booked, department policy requires staff to fill out a detailed intake screening, including health procedures.

If an inmate is experiencing or suspected to have medical problems, jail rules require the inmate to be put on “special watch.” Deputies are required to keep record of what’s called an ‘Inmate Round Record Form 402’ — in these instances ,staff are required to perform and document frequent checks on inmates.

KTVZ also found that nursing staff are not on duty 24/7 and health-trained officers are utilized in the absence of other medical staff.

NewsChannel 21 requested all documents related to the incident, Mays’ booking and health, but was denied — as sheriff’s officials cited the ongoing investigation.

An initial autopsy by the state medical examiner found no physical injuries or internal organ issues, ruling those factors out as causes of death.

A state Department of Justice spokeswoman said they are reviewing Hummel’s request that it’s DA assistance unit investigate the incident.