The family of Abed Michael Naqshabandi, an inmate who was held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, is suing the Horry County Sheriff’s Office. This comes after Mr. Naqshabandi was found unresponsive in the back of a transport van. The lawsuit, which was filed against the county and the sheriff’s office, claims that Naqshabandi was booked into the detention center on August 28, 2019, on two charges.
He was then being transferred back to his original location, the detention center, after a trip to Conway Medical Center. He was being treated for a heel injury on September 21st, 2019, when he was found unresponsive in the back of the van. Indeed, the coroner’s office found that Mr. Naqshabandi was found with a belt around his neck.
The family has now filed a claim of wrongful death, claiming that the Horry County Sheriff’s Office knew of his suicidal tendencies. In line with this knowledge, it’s alleged that they failed to take the steps needed to monitor his condition and his frame of mind. The lawsuit also states that he had suffered from a long-term history of mental illness and he had made several expressions of suicidal intent while in prison.
Indeed, documents show that the inmate had previously tried to commit suicide when at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center – and that this was why he was taken to hospital in the first place. In the lawsuit, it’s stated that “Mr. Naqshabandi suffered injuries to his legs, feet and elbow after jumping from the second-floor tier of his housing unit on multiple occasions in an attempt to commit suicide.”
After treatment, he was placed in the back of the van which is supposed to come with video monitoring equipment to directly supervise each individual. However, the plaintiff claims that there was no adequate supervision provided from the beginning of the journey until the end, which was around 20 minutes in total. This gave Naqshabandi the time needed to wrap the belt around his neck. While CPR was administered, he never regained consciousness and passed away.
The family is demanding that a jury trial is provided, and that damages for each independent cause of action are provided – as well as gross negligence. The State Law Enforcement Division is now investigating the incident to determine the potential for criminal liability. More to come as we get it.
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