Another death at Barton Street Jail

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One man is dead, the other lucky to be alive. Both were rushed to hospital early this morning, from the Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre.

It wasn’t a fight, or a confrontation with guards that sent the inmates to hospital. Instead, it was an on-going problem inside the jail walls. The drug trade claims scores of victims out on the street, but you would think that access to drugs – legal or otherwise – would be much more difficult in jail. Not so.

Tonight, the drug trade in Barton Street Jail has claimed it’s sixth victim, in the last three years.

It was early in the morning, just before one o’clock, when two inmates in their 20’s were rushed to hospital from the Barton Street jail.

Within an hour, one of them was dead. The other was treated and returned to jail later in the day.

The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, confirmed that much in a brief statement but “Given this matter is the subject of investigations by the police, Coroner and the Ministry, it would be inappropriate to provide further details.”

Although not confirmed, it’s believed a drug overdose, was the cause of death. If so, it is the sixth time in three years, that drugs have claimed the life of an inmate inside the jail.

“There’s some equipment out that assists us, and one of the new pieces of equipment out there is a full body scanner so you can actually see internally if the offenders are carrying drugs.” Monte Vieselmeyer is the Chairman of OPSEU’s Correctional Division. He says Barton street doesn’t have that equipment, and the bountiful black market trade for drugs is a constant danger for both inmates, and staff. “There’s a lucrative aspect to that, so they try to protect that. So there’s assaults offender on offender, and trying to control that…but then our officers get caught in the middle of that.”

In 20-12, Bill Acheson and Louis Unelli died at Barton Street Jail. In 20-14, it was Marty Tykoliz. And this year there have already been three deaths due to drug overdose: Steve Neeson in February, David Gillan in May. And overnight, the young 20 year old man, who has yet to be identified.

A Coroners’ inquest has been called to investigate five of those deaths, but no date has been set for its commencement.

In the meantime, Monte Vieselmeyer and his fellow officers, will continue their call for more staff, and better equipment: