Friday, October 29, 1999
Widow files suit over jail suicide
Prisoner's death called preventable
BY SHEILA McLAUGHLIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON — The wife of an inmate who committed suicide at the Warren County Justice Center in 1997 has sued the county and the city of Mason, saying her husband's death could have been prevented.
The case involves 34-year-old Fred Armes of Mason, who hanged himself with his shoelaces Oct. 21, 1997, after being arrested on 10 felony charges involving the molestation of a young girl.
In the complaint, Ella Lour aine Armes, of Belvidere, Ill., contends that authorities knew Mr. Armes had threatened suicide, but did not take ample precautions to keep him from hurting himself.
Mrs. Armes said her husband's threats prompted Mason police to confiscate Mr. Armes' gun while he was out on bail. Mr. Armes again made suicide threats in front of Mason officers on the day he was to appear for a hearing in Warren County Court.
Mr. Armes, who denied the criminal charges, was jailed after that hearing. Mrs. Armes claims Mason police failed to warn corrections officers about his suicide threats.
The suit alleges that Sheriff Tom Ariss did not have proper procedures for suicidal prisoners and that corrections officers were not properly trained.
Sheriff Ariss said Mr. Armes was in a maximum-security cell, but not on a suicide watch.
Sheriff Ariss told The Cincinnati Enquirer that Mr. Armes had attended breakfast with other inmates and did not appear despondent on the morning of his death. Mr. Armes was found hanging from a rotating safety hook about 9 a.m., an hour after guards last checked his cell, the sheriff said.
Other defendants are the Warren County Board of Commissioners and unidentified Mason officers and sheriff's deputies.
Chief Ron Ferrell of Mason declined comment. Warren County Prosecutor Tim Oliver said he will fight the lawsuit “vigorously.”
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Widow files suit over jail suicide
