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| Sheriff Apologizes to Family of Inmate Who Died After Being Restrained | Sheriff Apologizes to Family of Inmate Who Died After Being Restrained |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A North Carolina sheriff apologized on Tuesday to the family of a Black man who died last year after being restrained at a jail, a day before officials planned to release videos showing the episode that led to the man’s death. | A North Carolina sheriff apologized on Tuesday to the family of a Black man who died last year after being restrained at a jail, a day before officials planned to release videos showing the episode that led to the man’s death. |
| The sheriff, Bobby F. Kimbrough Jr., offered to name part of the Forsyth County, N.C., jail after the man, John Neville. Sheriff Kimbrough said renaming the housing unit after Mr. Neville would help memorialize him, as well as underscore the priorities of jail employees. | The sheriff, Bobby F. Kimbrough Jr., offered to name part of the Forsyth County, N.C., jail after the man, John Neville. Sheriff Kimbrough said renaming the housing unit after Mr. Neville would help memorialize him, as well as underscore the priorities of jail employees. |
| “We’re doing it as a reminder to let them know that life is paramount in how we do business,” Sheriff Kimbrough said. | “We’re doing it as a reminder to let them know that life is paramount in how we do business,” Sheriff Kimbrough said. |
| The sheriff also apologized to Mr. Neville’s family. | The sheriff also apologized to Mr. Neville’s family. |
| “History has tied us together, forever,” he told Mr. Neville’s son Sean and a lawyer representing the family who attended the news conference. “I apologize again for what took place on that day, apologize to you and your family.” | “History has tied us together, forever,” he told Mr. Neville’s son Sean and a lawyer representing the family who attended the news conference. “I apologize again for what took place on that day, apologize to you and your family.” |
| The remarks came one day before officials planned to release video footage connected to Mr. Neville’s death. The New York Times is among a coalition of news organizations that sued Forsyth jail officials for release of the footage. | |
| On July 31, a judge ordered jail officials to release portions of two videos; one portion is about 20 minutes long, and the other is nearly 26 minutes. | On July 31, a judge ordered jail officials to release portions of two videos; one portion is about 20 minutes long, and the other is nearly 26 minutes. |
| Mr. Kimbrough did not describe what was shown in the videos, but said that when he saw it, “I cried.” | Mr. Kimbrough did not describe what was shown in the videos, but said that when he saw it, “I cried.” |
| After Mr. Neville’s death, five former detention officers and a nurse at the jail were charged with involuntary manslaughter. | After Mr. Neville’s death, five former detention officers and a nurse at the jail were charged with involuntary manslaughter. |
| Mr. Neville, 56, died on Dec. 4 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. His death was publicly acknowledged by local officials in June, about a month after the killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis, which touched off protests around the globe against police brutality and systemic racism. | Mr. Neville, 56, died on Dec. 4 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. His death was publicly acknowledged by local officials in June, about a month after the killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis, which touched off protests around the globe against police brutality and systemic racism. |
| Mr. Neville was booked into the Forsyth County jail in Winston-Salem on Dec. 1, on a charge of assaulting a woman, according to the authorities. About 24 hours later, Mr. Neville experienced an unknown medical condition that caused him to fall from the top bunk of his cell and hit the concrete floor, according to the Forsyth County district attorney, Jim O’Neill. | Mr. Neville was booked into the Forsyth County jail in Winston-Salem on Dec. 1, on a charge of assaulting a woman, according to the authorities. About 24 hours later, Mr. Neville experienced an unknown medical condition that caused him to fall from the top bunk of his cell and hit the concrete floor, according to the Forsyth County district attorney, Jim O’Neill. |
| After detention officers transferred Mr. Neville to an observation cell, he “would sustain injuries that would eventually cause him to lose his life,” Mr. O’Neill said last month. | After detention officers transferred Mr. Neville to an observation cell, he “would sustain injuries that would eventually cause him to lose his life,” Mr. O’Neill said last month. |
| Those events were captured on video. “This video is tragic,” the sheriff said on Tuesday. “I won’t sugarcoat that.” | Those events were captured on video. “This video is tragic,” the sheriff said on Tuesday. “I won’t sugarcoat that.” |
| The state medical examiner’s office released an autopsy report that found officers had restrained Mr. Neville on his stomach for more than 12 minutes after he fell from his bed. | The state medical examiner’s office released an autopsy report that found officers had restrained Mr. Neville on his stomach for more than 12 minutes after he fell from his bed. |
| Jail staff members covered his head with a mask after he tried to bite them, and then rolled him onto his stomach to handcuff his wrists, which is when Mr. Neville said, “I can’t breathe,” according to the report. | Jail staff members covered his head with a mask after he tried to bite them, and then rolled him onto his stomach to handcuff his wrists, which is when Mr. Neville said, “I can’t breathe,” according to the report. |
| After officers moved Mr. Neville to another cell, he said, “I can’t breathe,” “Help me” and “Let me go,” according to the report. | After officers moved Mr. Neville to another cell, he said, “I can’t breathe,” “Help me” and “Let me go,” according to the report. |
| At the news conference on Tuesday, the sheriff expressed remorse for Mr. Neville’s death and acknowledged that “mistakes were made that day.” | At the news conference on Tuesday, the sheriff expressed remorse for Mr. Neville’s death and acknowledged that “mistakes were made that day.” |
| In addition to renaming the housing unit after Mr. Neville, the jail will change how it treats inmates who need medical attention, the sheriff said. | In addition to renaming the housing unit after Mr. Neville, the jail will change how it treats inmates who need medical attention, the sheriff said. |
| “Your father has changed the way health care will be dispensed at the Forsyth County detention center as well as how it will be dispensed throughout this region,” Sheriff Kimbrough said to Mr. Neville’s son. | “Your father has changed the way health care will be dispensed at the Forsyth County detention center as well as how it will be dispensed throughout this region,” Sheriff Kimbrough said to Mr. Neville’s son. |
| Sheriff Kimbrough did not take questions at the news conference. A telephone message left at the sheriff’s office on Tuesday evening was not immediately returned. | Sheriff Kimbrough did not take questions at the news conference. A telephone message left at the sheriff’s office on Tuesday evening was not immediately returned. |
| Michael Levenson contributed reporting. | Michael Levenson contributed reporting. |