A Yazoo County man who says he was seriously injured while in custody at the Yazoo County Correctional Facility due to a mental health issue said he’s not giving up in his quest for justice.
Charles McCool appeared before the Board of Supervisors for a second time Friday seeking to have his medical expenses paid for by the county.
McCool said he was injured while being transported back to the county jail after a judge ruled that he was a danger to himself due to severe depression following the death of his mother.
“I was on suicide watch, and I had to come to court,” McCool said. “When I went back to the jail, and I was getting out of the van I fell face first because my legs were chained.”
Board attorney Jay Barbour said the county board cannot help with the matter, and it must be resolved with the jail’s insurance company.
“(The county) can’t make a volunteer payment to anyone,” Barbour said. “It’s illegal, and you would hear from the auditor, and the person receiving the money would hear from the auditor. There’s nothing this board can do, You threatened a suit against the county before, and if you think the county owes you, that’s your recourse.”
McCool said he isn’t giving up.
“Let me let y’all in on a little information,’ McCool said. “The U.S. Justice Department will be coming here. I will be talking to them Thursday. If you don’t believe me, I have their numbers.”
“That’s fine,” said District 1 Supervisor Van Foster.
“I’m not trying to start any mess, but I’m trying to get what’s happening out there stopped. The mentally ill do not be put in jail, whoever they are. It needs to stop, and it needs to stop now. That’s what I’ve preached to y’all from the beginning, and now the state of Mississippi is being sued. The people who are doing the suing, I’m right there with them. We will be back.”
McCool said he was disappointed that the board wouldn’t try to assist him.
“They see me as an expense rather than a citizen they represent,” he said.
