Birmingham officials review two in-custody deaths at city jail, investigations underway

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - The City of Birmingham is reviewing two separate in-custody deaths that occurred at the Birmingham City Jail on June 11 and June 14.

According to a statement from Deputy Chief of Public Safety Carlton Peeples, both incidents remain under active investigation and are being examined independently.

In the first case, officials said jail personnel conducting welfare checks around 2:35 p.m. Thursday, June 11, found an unresponsive adult male inside a cell after an apparent self-harm incident. Staff entered the cell, began life-saving measures and requested emergency medical assistance, but the man was later pronounced dead, the statement said.

The city said the man had been booked into the Birmingham City Jail on April 21 on charges of disorderly conduct, public intoxication, criminal mischief and two counts of third-degree assault. Officials said he had been housed at the facility for about 51 days before his death.

In the second case, officials said jail personnel notified the department’s Communications Division at about 1:10 p.m. Sunday, June 14, about an unresponsive male inside the facility.

A preliminary investigation indicates that earlier that morning — around 10 a.m. — jail staff found the man during an apparent self-harm attempt, according to the statement. Birmingham Fire and Rescue responded and transported him to UAB Hospital for evaluation. After the evaluation, the city said UAB medical staff released him and he was returned to the Birmingham City Jail, where he was placed on suicide watch.

While on suicide watch, the statement said jail personnel conducted welfare checks at regular intervals. Around 1:07 p.m., staff found the man unresponsive inside a cell and began life-saving measures while requesting emergency medical assistance, officials said. He was transported to UAB Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The city said the man had been booked into the Birmingham City Jail on June 13 on a disorderly conduct charge and had been at the facility for about one day before the incident.

A preliminary review indicates jail personnel responded in accordance with established protocols, the statement said.

As is standard protocol, the Birmingham Police Department is investigating both deaths in coordination with the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, which will determine the official cause and manner of death in each case, according to the city.

“The City of Birmingham and the Birmingham Police Department remain committed to conducting thorough and transparent investigations,” the statement said.

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