Three inmates at Richland County jail overdosed on fentanyl, synthetic drug. Two died
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Richland County Jail
A mental health crisis has unfolded inside of the “particularly hazardous” Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, fueled by understaffing and poor conditions, according to new documents filed in a lawsuit against Richland County.
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In a span of two days, three detainees at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center overdosed on fentanyl and a pain killer, resulting in the deaths of two of them, according to Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott.
Richland County jail inmates Marty J. Brown, 25, and Lamont Powell, 54, were found dead in their cells on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, after overdosing — Brown on fentanyl and Powell on pentazocine, a highly addictive pain medication, according to Lott. A third inmate, who was not identified, also overdosed on fentanyl Tuesday, but survived, Lott said.
On Tuesday night, jail officials and Richland County deputies conducted a coordinated search of the jail for narcotics, Lott said. The search, conducted before the third overdose was discovered, didn’t turn up anything, Lott said.
Richland County deputies are now conducting a criminal investigation into who brought the drugs in the jail, and Alvin S. Glenn officials have begun an internal investigation, according to Lott.
When asked whether he believes the drugs were introduced by detention center officers, Lott said he didn’t know as “it’s too early in the investigation.” But he added they must’ve been “smuggled by either inmates or people who work there.”
So far this year, nearly a dozen detention officers at Alvin S. Glenn have been arrested and charged with bringing contraband into the jail and/or misconduct in office.
A review of incident reports and statements from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department indicates a thriving black market for drugs, cigarettes and other contraband inside of the jail, with much of the communication and coordination being arranged through contraband cellphones.
“I guess the message is to those that are inmates at Alvin S. Glenn is that the drugs you’re taking there will kill you just as they can on the street,” Lott said. “I cannot say that there isn’t more fentanyl and other synthetic drugs at the jail, it probably is.”
This story was originally published July 24, 2024 at 4:35 PM.
