Dearsenio Sloan Died In Jail Cell At North Chicago Police Department

Dearsenio Sloan Died In Custody At North Chicago Police Department Jail Cell Following Arrest

Dearsenio Sloan Died In Jail Cell At North Chicago Police Department

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (October 9, 2022) – A 34-year-old man  identified as Dearsenio Sloan was found bleeding and deceased in a jail cell at the North Chicago Police Department after his arrest.

Cook County officials are saying that the incident began around 10:00 p.m. on Friday when the man was arrested. Police are saying that Dearsenio Sloan was in possession of a controlled substance at the time of his arrest.

Officers transported him to the North Chicago Police Department and he reportedly began feeling ill. An ambulance took him to the hospital where he remained for some time before being discharged.

Officers then took the man back to the North Chicago Police Department. An officer went to check on the man around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Dearsenio Sloan was bleeding and found deceased in his jail cell. Officials said that a dialysis port was removed from his body.

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Cook County Inmate Deaths

Thousands of suspects and inmates die in custody every year. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “In 2019, the mortality rate in state prisons was 330 per 100,000 state prisoners, while federal prisoners in facilities operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) died at a rate of 259 per 100,000.” Jails are supposed to be places of rehabilitation, but far too often they are locations where people are mistreated, neglected and left to die. There are a number of common causes of inmate death.

  • Heart disease
  • Suicide
  • Drug or alcohol intoxication
  • Illness
  • Inmate attacks

Inmates have a constitutional right to receive reasonably adequate healthcare. Typically, when an inmate is being checked in, they should undergo a health screening. Inmates that complain about any health issue should receive prompt attention. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

The Illinois Department of Corrections is facing a number of class action lawsuits brought by individuals alleging that they received inadequate care. In many instances, inmates died after their treatment was delayed. One record indicates that there were 33 death records between 2016 – 2017. In one instance, an inmate was seen swallowing two plastic sporks and received no medical attention. They later died. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any inmate death.

  • Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
  • Medical records should be preserved.
  • Jail records should be examined.
  • Surveillance footage should be sought.

It can be difficult to know where to begin after any person dies in custody. It is important to remember that inmates and their families do have rights. They have a right to know what happened and they are also able to pursue a civil claim if that is what they choose. Unfortunately, police departments and jails will fight hard to deny liability for any in-custody death. This is why it is so important that all evidence is properly preserved.

Investigating A North Chicago Police Department Death

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Dearsenio Sloan who died at the North Chicago Police Department. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. The North Chicago Police Department needs to be transparent about what happened. It is our sincere hope that steps will be taken to prevent other tragedies like this.

Do you need more information about a North Chicago Police Department jail cell death? Our team of consumer safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that victims are aware of their rights and that police departments are held to account for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.