TOLEDO, Ohio — The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is investigating the death of a man in the booking area of the Lucas County jail Thursday.
According to the Lucas County Sheriff's Office, Anthony Boyd-Foard, 35, was booked at the Lucas County Corrections Center on charges of felony harassment by an inmate and misdemeanor charges of failure to disclose information, disorderly conduct and driving under suspension. He had been booked early Wednesday morning.
When Boyd-Foard was brought to the jail, he was looked at by the medical staff, who determined he needed to go to the hospital, according to Lucas County Sheriff Michael Navarre.
Navarre told WTOL 11 that Boyd-Foard refused medical treatment at two hospitals. He was brought to St. Vincent Medical Center and St. Charles Hospital. According to Navarre, it is jail policy to accept suspects after two refusals for medical treatment, but claimed Boyd-Foard was not in the right health to be in jail.
Navarre said they communicated with his mother, who provided medication that they were giving him.
"He needed to go to our medical wing and we didn't really have space for him at that particular time so he was being provided that medical care in the booking area," Navarre said. "They check on inmates every 30 minutes, as we are required to, and he was found unresponsive at mealtime."
Just before 5 p.m., jail staff found Boyd-Foard unconscious in a housing unit of the booking area, the office claimed. A life squad was called to the scene as employees began giving medical assistance. Paramedics pronounced Boyd-Foard dead at 5:30 p.m.
"We are not a hospital," Navarre said. "We are not equipped to provide the type of medical treatment that some of these inmates need, and it's very unfortunate that this young man died in our facility. He belonged in a hospital."
Navarre said the medical services director is reaching out to counties across the state to see what their policies are, and he has reached out to another sheriff to discuss the issue.
"Our policy that we will accept someone who has refused treatment at two different hospitals needs to be changed," Navarre said. "And I'm going to do that. I don't know the solution right now but I certainly know what the problem is, and we are going to reach out to other counties across the country. This problem is not unique to Lucas County."
WTOL 11 reached out to Mercy Health, who said "Out of respect for the dignity and privacy of all those we serve; we have no information to share at this time."
Navarre said having a larger medical area will be addressed in the plans for the new jail.
The cause of Boyd-Foard's death was not made available. The BCI responded to the scene and is investigating.
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