By Sarah DeSantis
The News-Item
SUNBURY — A Shamokin man who hanged himself in the Northumberland County Prison last year was being monitored on suicide watch when he died, according to a response to a lawsuit filed by his wife.
The response from the county, the prison board, then-Warden Roy Johnson, Deputy Warden Brian Wheary and corrections officers Jason Greek and “Jen,” filed May 27, denies any wrongdoing in the death of Cyrus Lewis, who hanged himself June 15, 2014, in the now-defunct Sunbury jail.
Hope Lewis claims in a lawsuit filed Nov. 6 that her 34-year-old husband was not placed on suicide watch or jailed in a suicide cell following intake June 10. But the response states that despite denials of suicidal and homicidal thoughts, Cyrus Lewis scored a 10 on an intake suicide screening form when he arrived at the prison and was immediately placed on a level II suicide watch.
Lt. Jim Smink said Wednesday a person on a level II suicide watch would wear a standard jumpsuit, but would be issued a security blanket made of a heavy nylon that is difficult to tie or tear. Guards would check the inmate at least every 15 minutes.
An inmate on a level I suicide watch, the most severe, would receive only a security smock and blanket and have no other personal items, including glasses, in the cell. A guard constantly monitors these inmates, Smink said.
Two days later after Lewis arrived in the prison, a mental heath professional decreased the suicide watch to level III, the response states.
Inmates on this level of suicide watch, the lowest, would have the same experiences as their peers but would be subject to the regular cell checks, Smink said.
The county’s response also refutes a claim by Hope Lewis that her husband’s cell was not checked intermittently leading up to his death and that a corrections officer sent an inmate to check on him. Cyrus Lewis was checked at 9:05 p.m. and again at 9:20 p.m. by correctional officer Jennifer Lashomb, initially identified only as “Jen” in documents.
“It was not until 9:20 p.m. that a blanket was first noticed and at the point that the decedent was seen hanging, a call for backup was made and the cell door was opened in an effort to relieve the pressure on the decedent’s neck,” the response says.
In addition to disputing these facts, the county defendants cite 14 technical defenses, including a violation of the statue of limitations, the failure to state a claim, a lack of jurisdiction and immunity.
The six defendants are also asking the judge to award them costs and attorney’s fees for defending the suit.
They are represented by Sean P. McDonough of Dougherty, Leventhal & Price LLP, Moosic. Lewis is represented by Tim Bowers of Best Law Offices LLC, Sunbury.