Deschutes Jail death lawsuit adds Sheriff Nelson, Lt. Trono

A federal lawsuit regarding Edwin Mays’ death in the Deschutes County Jail in December 2014 has been revised to seek a larger amount – $16.6 million — while dropping four defendants and adding two — then-jail commander, now-Sheriff Shane Nelson and Lt. Robert Trono.

The revised wrongful death lawsuit also seeks a court order (preliminary injunction to require that the agency add a detox area for inmates under drug intoxication, as well as to provide water and food, and medical personal on staff with eyes on the inmates at all times.

Lawyers for the family of Edwin Mays III, Jennifer Coughlin and Michelle Burrows, said Nelson was jail commander at the time and did not have a nurse on duty. They said Nelson endorsed and supported the behavior of the deputies on duty that night.

Trono was the jail lieutenant responsible for the job assignments and staffing that night, they added.

Both attorneys said jail management did not discipline many of the officers involved at the level they deserved for neglect of an individual who was dying of a drug overdose.

Edwin Mays III, 31, was arrested under suspicion of heroin possession. Authorities reported that his behavior on Dec. 14, 2014 was erratic and wild, and were seen on released video footage mocking him.

Within hours of being placed in a jail cell, Mays died. His father filed suit against the sheriff’s office and the deputies on duty for their lack of action when Mays needed medical attention for a methamphetamine overdose.

Video footage reveals that other inmates were claiming Mays needed medical attention and some of the deputies were mocking Mays as he acted erratically. The report said they did not call for medical assistance until Mays had stopped breathing.

The revised lawsuit, which also drops four deputies as defendants, comes as Nelson faces sheriff’s Deputy Eric Kozowski in this fall’s election. The original lawsuit sought damages of $10.7 million