Forsyth County prosecutors want records sealed related to John Neville John Neville's cousin, Wendy Blackwell, left, and Angela Brown, the mother of Neville's son, Kristopher Brown-Neville, console one another during a vigil, Friday, December, 4, 2020, remembering John Neville on the one year anniversary of Neville's death. A media coalition, including the Winston-Salem Journal, had sought public release of the records, which were in the custody of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. In this Feb. 12, 2019 image made from video and released by the Forsyth County, (N.C). Almost exactly 24 hours after Neville was first booked into the jail, detention officers and Heughins went to his cell after his cellmate pushed a button. The lawsuit asks for compensatory damages totaling about $300,000 and an unknown amount of punitive damages. Detention officers used a bolt cutter, which didnt work and one of the officers had to go get another bolt cutter that did work. The lawsuit is seeking $25,000 in damages as well as any additional amount determined by the court. The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office took seven months to issues a statement about his death, prompted by questions from the Winston-Salem Journal. I support the Neville family as they grieve the loss of their dad. The sheriff made no announcement about the. One key broke, and officers tried another key and two bolt cutters before the handcuffs were taken off. Heughins case is now in Forsyth Superior Court, and she has a court date of May 20, according to court records. I understand this is a civil process, and I cannot discuss details, but I continue to stand on what is legal, what is moral, and what is right. WRAL-TV, ABC 11, WXII-TC, WUNC-FM, The Winston-Salem Journal, The News & Record . On Tuesday, attorneys for Sean Neville, John Nevilles son and executor of his fathers estate, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in the Middle District of North Carolina. Copyright 2023 ABC11-WTVD-TV/DT. As a result, Neville was unable to breathe, which caused a brain injury that would eventually kill him, O'Neill said. People pass the light of their candles during a vigil, Friday, December, 4, 2020, remembering John Neville on the one year anniversary of Neville's death. There was a problem saving your notification. At one point, as Neville cried for help, a detention officer told Neville to calm down, saying that if he was talking, he was breathing. He uttered "I can't breathe" once while on his stomach. He was found sweating with vomit on his clothes and blood around his mouth. Lawsuit: Forsyth jail officers, nurse ignored signs John Neville was in WE DO KNOW THAT DETENTION CENTER STAFF HELD HIS SHOULDERS, ARMS AND LEGS, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. In the next few minutes, Neville stopped moving. Forsyth County jail inmates tap on the glass as people chant "we see you" during a vigil, Friday, December, 4, 2020, remembering John Neville on the one year anniversary of Neville's death. The sheriff also apologized to Mr. Nevilles family for the episode, in which five former detention officers and a nurse have been charged with involuntary manslaughter. WINSTON-SALEM. Jail, authorities restrain John Neville in his cell as a nurse speaks with him, in Winston-Salem, N.C. 1 person indicted in death of John Neville in Winston-Salem Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. did not publicly acknowledge Nevilles death for six months. In this way, even if every single person involved in the murder of John Neville was indicted, there could still be no justice because Mr. Neville is still gone from his loved ones and the conditions which allowed him to be brutalized in his cell while Sheriffs Deputies maliciously and callously joked about breaking handcuffs as he gasped for air still exist, the group's statement said. Sheriff Apologizes to Family of Inmate Who Died After Being Restrained, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/04/us/john-neville-death-winston-salem-nc.html, Sheriff Bobby F. Kimbrough Jr. of Forsyth County, N.C., told John Nevilles family that history has tied us together, forever., Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, via Facebook. The officer was later convicted of murder, and Floyds death sparked protests around the country. The detention. Winston-Salem mayor released the following statement regarding the video of Neville's death: "We are living in challenging times and this is a difficult day for our city. People chant as they march around the Forsyth County jail during a vigil, Friday, December, 4, 2020, remembering John Neville on the one year anniversary of Neville's death. He was pinned to the floor while Heughins tried to get a pulse, and then he was handcuffed, placed in a restraint chair and taken to a multipurpose room on another floor of the jail. She also said that the Forsyth County District Attorneys Office is largely responsible for scheduling criminal cases. THE M.E. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Speak to recruitment advertising specialist, As newly elected Rep. Jen Kiggans reflects on first few months in Congress, heres what shes been up to, Sen. Kaine introduces national version of state anti-housing discrimination law for veterans, low-income families, Old Dominion, William & Mary tennis teams head to North Carolina for NCAA Tournament, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. A judge released body camera footage Wednesday worn by officers inside the Forsyth County Detention Center in Winston-Salem on the morning inmate John Neville suffered a . Jail, authorities restrain John Neville in his cell as a nurse speaks with him, in Winston-Salem, N.C. Slappy's reopens after two year closure. The remarks came one day before officials released video footage connected to Mr. Nevilles death in response to a judges order. The hospital conducted an autopsy the day after he died. Williams came into the room at one point and told the officers to straighten Nevilles legs. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Residents ask school board where is the outrage after drag performance; school system will revise agreement with Forsyth Tech, No new vaccinations would be allowed in North Carolina for 3 years under bill filed in N.C. House, Slice of Napoli closing; new pizza place moving in, Jim Spivey, a former athletics director at Reynolds High School, dies. The callousness of this note demonstrates that correctional defendants were more concerned with the potential fallout from their treatment of Mr. Neville than they were for Mr. Nevilles wellbeing, the lawsuit said. I understand that there is a great deal of interest in this case, and I ask for the continued peaceful support of this community as we gather with the Neville family in determining how we will proceed from here.. The lawsuit alleges, the detention officers and nurse who purported to assist Mr. Neville altogether failed to recognize the seriousness of his condition or to follow the policies set in place for handling inmates or detainees with serious health problems or who are experiencing a medical emergency," according to court documents. Forsyth County manager Dudley Watts did not immediately return a message seeking comment. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Five former detention officers. Grand jury indictment in John Neville Forsyth NC jail death | Raleigh You have permission to edit this article. Sean Neville, the executor of his fathers estate, issued a written statement about the grand jurys decision to The (Raleigh) News & Observer on Tuesday. About 24 hours later, he experienced a medical . Kernersville police officers arrested Neville on Dec. 1, 2019, on an outstanding arrest warrant for assault on a female, and Neville was taken to the Forsyth County Jail. George Floyd's final moments detailed in newly released body camera transcripts. Neville died at the hospital after he was restrained at the Forsyth County jail. Several news organizations, including The New York Times, had sued county officials in order to obtain the material. It had been two days since he was rushed there by. 5 former Forsyth detention officers, nurse charged with involuntary manslaughter in man's death, Winston-Salem protesters arrested at rally pushing for release of footage surrounding death of John Neville. Slappy's reopens after two year closure. The plaintiff has a strong interest in promptly learning more about the relevant facts and moving this case towards resolution, especially given the ongoing delays in the criminal proceedings, Eagles said. This video is tragic, the sheriff said on Tuesday. The case, for now, remains in Forsyth District Court, where a hearing is scheduled March 11. A nurse has been indicted in a man's death at a Winston-Salem jail RELATED: 'I can't breathe' | Autopsy report details death of Forsyth County inmate John Neville. The lawsuit said the county continued to contract with Wellpath LLC and its predecessor, Correct Care Solutions, even though both corporations had been sued several times for inmate deaths in the county jail. It happened after his cellmate saw him having what appeared to be a seizure in the middle of the night and called for the emergency response team. A provided handout photo of John Neville, 56, who was booked into the Forsyth County jail in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Dec. 1., 2019. During this situation our nurse performed her duties in line with the Forsyth County Sheriff Office's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in place at the time. Neville was placed in a restraint chair and moved from his cell to a multipurpose room on another floor, where Heughins tried to check his pulse, and eventually to another cell, where officers attempted to unlock his handcuffs. An autopsy report said Neville died from a brain injury caused when his heart stopped beating and his brain was deprived of oxygen. Detention officers removed Nevilles blue jumpsuit and left Neville alone in the prone position in the jail cell. There is no indication as to when prosecutors will seek an indictment. Neville died at the. In the second video, Mr. Neville is being held face down by several officers. Courtesy Tasha Martin.