A detainee at the St. Louis City Justice Center (CJC) was pronounced dead following a physical altercation and subsequent restraint by Corrections staff on Saturday night, authorities have reported. The deceased inmate has been identified as 31-year-old Samuel Hayes Junior. As per the information provided by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD), the Force Investigations Unit was alerted to the incident at approximately 11:35 p.m. last Saturday.
Witness reports and preliminary findings indicate that an altercation occurred around 8:20 p.m. between Hayes and another detainee. Details on what instigated the fight have not been disclosed. Corrections staff claim that Hayes did not comply with verbal commands post the altercation, which led to him being placed in a restraint chair. It was around 10:00 p.m. when Hayes was found unresponsive. He was then rushed to the hospital where his death was confirmed. The Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to determine the official cause of death.
The Force Investigations Unit, which delves into all in-custody deaths and uses of deadly force by law enforcement within the city, has taken charge of the ongoing investigation into the incident. A full report is anticipated upon the conclusion of their thorough examination. SLMPD has assured transparency and comprehensiveness in its investigative efforts following such incidents.
