A Cook County Jail detainee, Cory Ulmer, died last Friday following a physical altercation with correctional officers while handcuffed, as detailed in an internal report. The report, obtained by Injustice Watch, described Ulmer as "combative" and detailed how he was struck by the guards, thrown to the ground, and sedated before he ceased living.
At the time of the incident, Ulmer was awaiting transfer to the jail's mental health wing. He was handcuffed with his hands in front, but he reportedly became non-compliant and was subjected to an "emergency take-down" after rushing out of his holding cell. Guards struggled to securely handle Ulmer due to his size, eventually utilizing sedatives, which were administered by a jail nurse, according to the sergeant’s report, Injustice Watch details. In a related April investigation, experts had told the Associated Press that such injections could potentially lead to cardiac arrest in stressful arrest situations, according to Block Club Chicago.
Ulmer's lawyer echoed concerns, stating that Ulmer, 41, suffered from bipolar disorder and had a history of manic episodes. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart's office has since reassigned 11 jail employees as the investigation into the incident continues. Meanwhile, Cory Ulmer's family was left seeking answers after being informed of his death with scant details, a disclosure that is mandated under state law to be timely and factual. Robert Robinson, Ulmer’s stepfather, told Block Club Chicago, "They said he got locked up and he went to the hospital, and unfortunately he didn’t make it — that’s all he told me."
The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force has since opened an investigation into Ulmer’s death. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet determined the cause of death. In Jesse Guth's view, an attorney and former county prosecutor now representing Ulmer's family, there is an urgent need for transparency and justice, as he expressed that "Cory's family and the people of Cook County deserve no less than the full truth." Guth conveyed his position to Injustice Watch in no uncertain terms. Noteworthy is the fact that Ulmer's death marks the first at Cook County Jail this year, following a report that revealed significant oversight failures in previous detainee deaths.
