ST. LOUIS (AP) - The Latest on an embattled Missouri sheriff (all times local):
6:15 p.m.
Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley says a 28-year-old inmate who died after a jail altercation had asked police to see a counselor.
Hawley on Thursday said Tory Sanders told police before his Friday arrest that he was in distress and asked to see a counselor.
Sanders died Friday after an altercation with police and staff at the Mississippi County jail. Hawley said two mental health evaluations were conducted after Sanders said he was in distress and one of those evaluations recommended to be held for 96-hours as a result.
Sanders’ death prompted an investigation by Hawley’s office and the temporary removal of Mississippi County Sheriff Cory Hutcheson.
Hutcheson was arrested last month on 18 criminal charges stemming from allegations that he handcuffed a 77-year-old woman with so much force that she suffered a heart attack. He’s pleaded not guilty.
Two federal lawsuits also have been filed against Hutcheson.
Hutcheson’s attorney Scott Rosenblum says Hutcheson welcomes an investigation by Hawley’s office, which Rosenblum says would show Hutcheson and deputies didn’t commit crimes.
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12:30 p.m.
Two federal lawsuits have been filed against a Missouri sheriff who faces a raft of charges and was removed from office amid a separate jail death investigation.
The Southeast Missourian (https://bit.ly/2pBtbdJ ) reports that the filing of the suits Wednesday comes one day after Cory Hutcheson was removed as the Mississippi County sheriff.
A 77-year-old woman whom Hutcheson is charged with handcuffing with so much force that she suffered a heart attack is a plaintiff in one of the suits. Five members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol filed the other suit. Both seek monetary damages.
Hutcheson was arrested last month on 18 criminal charges and has pleaded not guilty. Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley also says he participated in a jail altercation Friday in which a 28-year-old inmate died.
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Information from: Southeast Missourian, https://www.semissourian.com
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