The quest for clarity continues as the family of Samuel Hayes Jr., a 31-year-old detainee at the St. Louis City Justice Center (CJC), presses for the release of surveillance footage following his death after being restrained at the facility. Hayes' demise, which occurred on a Saturday night, marks the twentieth fatality at CJC since 2020 and the latest incident raising concerns over detainee treatment within the institution.
An altercation between Hayes and another detainee led to his being secured in a restraint chair by CJC staff. According to a KSDK report, he was discovered unresponsive about an hour and a half later and was subsequently pronounced dead at an hospital. Hayes was in custody for over a year on charges of first-degree murder related to a 2024 shooting in North St. Louis and was scheduled for a court appearance on August 4.
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, informed of the incident the day following Hayes' death, has extended condolences and pledged transparency and accountability. Meanwhile, the family and their lawyer are adamant about obtaining the relevant video evidence. "What happened to Samuel Lemar Hayes Junior?" Hayes' mother, Anita Washington, implored in a statement to 5 On Your Side. The city's protocol necessitates medical assessment prior to and during the use of restraint chairs, including video monitoring of the incident.
Growing frustration is evident as the family grapples with the delayed notification of Hayes' passing. "We weren’t notified until 2, 3 a.m. Sunday," Hayes' father recounted to First Alert 4, expressing uncertainty about the events that transpired between the altercation and the eventual notification. The SLMPD's Force Investigations Unit (FIU) is piecing together a timeline, though spokesperson Mitch McCoy mentioned there were no external signs of trauma on Hayes' body when detectives arrived at the hospital.
Call for transparency by the bereaved family emphasizes the urgent need for examination of law enforcement practices and detainee safety. The SLMPD and the mayor's office recognize the gravity of the situation, with investigations underway to answer the heart-rending question posed by Hayes' mother in her plea to the city and conveyed by FOX 2 Now: "Please release the videotapes, and let's see what's going on with my son, so we can let this case close."
