Another jail lawsuit

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PRINCETON — A fourth complaint has been filed in federal court against personnel associated with the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department and against conditions at the county jail.

Michael Heiserman, a former inmate at the jail, filed his 10-page complaint Nov. 10 in the U.S. Central District of Illinois Court in Peoria.

Named as defendants in the complaint are Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson, Deputy Sheriff Chad Hall, a freelance nurse providing medical service at the jail, and Walnut Police Chief Tom Ptasnik.

Heiserman’s complaint alleges a deliberate indifference by Thompson as evidenced by placing Heiserman in an unsafe county jail, which has several building code violations. Inmates have to live in a “very dangerous environment,” Heiserman alleges.

Heiserman also claims deliberate indifference and police brutality against Hall and Ptasnik. Heiserman claims the nurse conspired with the other defendants to deny him his constitutional rights.

Heiserman has requested his complaint be heard by a jury. He is also asking for $2 million for the physical pain and emotional suffering he’s had to endure.

Bureau County is facing three additional complaints in federal court.

On June 4, 2008, the estate of Austin Wells and Austin’s parents, Jerry Wells and Mindy Davis, filed a civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit against Bureau County, the sheriff and two correctional officers for the June 9, 2007, death of Austin Wells. The 17-year-old Wells commented suicide while an inmate at the county jail.

On Sept. 18, Terry D. Wilson, an inmate at county jail, filed a civil rights complaint in federal court listing a number of complaints, including deliberate indifference on the part of law officials and poor conditions in the county jail. Wilson wants $10 million in punitive and compensatory damages. He also wants an injunction stopping the use of the jail.

On Oct. 9, a group of five county jail inmates or former inmates filed a complaint in federal court about the conditions at the county jail and alleged unprofessional treatment by authorities. However, only one of the inmates, Ronald Hotchkiss, signed the complaint. Hotchkiss is asking for $8 million in compensation for his suffering and to have the county jail closed.