Sheriff, staff deny allegations they caused inmate’s death

GREENSBURG, Ind. (AP) – A southeastern Indiana sheriff and his jail staff are denying allegations they were responsible for the death of a man who died while being held at the county jail.

Decatur County Sheriff Greg Allen and his jail staff rejected the lawsuit’s allegations in court documents filed recently in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis.

The Greensburg Daily News reports Lynn Brewsaugh filed a wrongful death lawsuit last fall over the March 17 death of her 38-year-old son, M. Shane Satterfield.

A coroner found that Satterfield, who was serving a 14-day sentence for drunken driving, died in the jail about 50 miles southeast of Indianapolis of natural causes from complications of alcohol withdrawal.

Brewsbaugh’s suit alleges jail staff didn’t properly react to Satterfield’s deteriorating condition. She’s seeking unspecified damages.