Another inmate has died at Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC).
London Police confirmed officers were called to the Exeter Road jail after an inmate was found unresponsive on Wednesday morning.
"The male was pronounced deceased and a coroner's investigation was initiated which the London Police Service Major Crime Section provided assistance with," police said. They determined that a man identified as Jamie Briggs died due to natural causes. But, his lawyer says otherwise.
“The jail was well aware that Mr. Briggs was in medical distress, and that his condition was deteriorating. It is unconscionable that he was left to die in his cell rather than taken to hospital to be provided the medical attention that he so urgently needed,” Alison Craig tweeted on Thursday morning. She claims he had suffered a head injury.
Briggs died on Wednesday. Shortly after, Craig tweeted that "Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre needs to be shut the bleep down. NOW."
https://twitter.com/lawandchocolate/status/1592995429117210624
"How many deaths do there have to be at a jail before something is done?" she added.
Briggs is the 21st inmate to die at the EMDC since 2009.
An inquest into one inmate's death is set to resume next week.
There have been seven inquests for deaths at the facility, which has been heavily criticized for being overcrowded and improperly staffed.
"This is an institution that was built in 1975. Aging infrastructure. The sightlines from where the guards sit to the day room are non-existent. From their desks, they can not see the inmates' activity," said lawyer Kevin Egan, who has represented several former EMDC inmates in civil cases. "When they expanded the number of people, there were no modifications to the plumbing, to the ventilation system, to the rest of the infrastructure."
"The institution was originally built for 150, now they say capacity is 450," Egan added.
When reached for comment on the latest death at the EMDC a spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General stated he could not provide further details as a number of investigations are underway.
"When a death involving an inmate occurs, several investigations take place," said Ministry spokesperson Andrew Morrison. "The Office of the Chief Coroner conducts a death investigation to determine cause and manner of death. The ministry conducts a mandatory internal investigation to determine whether all ministry policies and procedures were followed with respect to the care and custody of the deceased. The local police may investigate to determine if the death was due to any criminal activity. If it is determined that a death was not a result of natural causes, a mandatory inquest is held to examine the circumstances and manner of the death."
