Hummel asks Oregon DOJ to review jail inmate death

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said Tuesday he has asked the Oregon Department of Justice’s District Attorney Assist Unit for an independent review of the investigation into the Dec. 14 death of a county jail inmate.

The State Medical Examiner concluded that Edwin Burl Mays, 31, a pre-booking inmate at the jail, died of a methamphetamine overdose.

The sheriff’s office, with assistance from the Bend Police Department, began its investigation immediately after Mays’ death.

In a statement, Hummel said he feels “it is best for all involved – the Mays family, the public, and the involved law enforcement agencies – if an outside agency such as the Department of Justice conducts a comprehensive review of the incident.”

Sheriff’s Capt. Shane Nelson, who will become the new sheriff this summer, also was quoted in the statement.

“We will cooperate fully with the Department of Justice investigation as we cooperated fully with the initial review undertaken by the district attorney,” Nelson said.

Hummel told NewsChannel 21 he made the formal request on Monday, adding, “I have every reason to believe they will accept the case.”

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Justice said late Tuesday they are reviewing Hummel’s request.

Tune into NewsChannel 21 at Five and Six for Kandra Kent’s report on the latest developments, including Hummel’s release of security-camera video footage from the night Mays died.