Thompson says claims are false

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PRINCETON — Terry Wilson’s complaint is based on frivolous allegations and no facts, according to Sheriff John Thompson.

In an interview Thursday afternoon, Thompson said Wilson is just trying to shift the focus from his significant criminal charges, which are a variety of drug-related issues. In his opinion, the federal court should dismiss Wilson’s complaint without merit.

Responding to some of the complaint allegations, Thompson said Wilson’s claim of racial comments or bias by his officers are totally unfounded. His staff are professionals who treat inmates with courtesy and respect.

“My position as your sheriff is to make sure these people (inmates) are treated with dignity and care,” Thompson said. “We go above and beyond to be courteous and nice. I know the staff, and they have no feeling of racial motivation whatsoever. If he’s the first one to make the claims of racial bias, then I think it’s Mr. Wilson who is racially biased.”

As far as Wilson’s accusation of a lack of medical treatment, Thompson said there is no limit to how often an inmate can request to see a medical professional. Medical complaints are noted by the staff and reported to the medical personnel who come regularly to the jail. Everyone gets direct medical attention, the sheriff said.

Concerning Wilson’s allegation of not getting pens or pencils, the sheriff said there is a safety issue that has to be considered. Inmates have to be within a controlled environment.

As far as the conditions within the jail, Thompson said the Bureau County Board is aggressively pursuing issues with the jail facility, but the living conditions in the jail do not violate Wilson’s rights. The county is doing its best to provide the best facility with the resources it has, he said.

Also, conditions for the inmates are certainly no worse than what the staff are subjected to every day, Thompson said. Conditions are nowhere near being hazard or injurious to someone’s health.

Claims of mold are another unfounded allegation, Thompson said. The cells are cleaned and disinfected twice weekly by the inmates.

“The environment in the jail is safe and sound,” Thompson said.

According to Thompson, Wilson’s lawsuit is a slap in the face of the taxpayers of Bureau County. When people come forward making unsubstantiated allegations, it costs the taxpayers a lot of money to defend the county against such lawsuits, he said.

In his opinion, Wilson may be using his complaint as a means for a plea agreement or to get financially subsidized from the county or the county’s insurance company.

“If Mr. Wilson gets any money out of Bureau County, then that’s a travesty,” Thompson said. “The fact that Mr. Wilson doesn’t like it because he is arrested and held in the county jail to keep our society safe, that is his problem.”

As of Thursday, Thompson said he had not yet been served with any papers concerning Wilson’s complaint.

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