Detainee says he is being denied mask in Horry County jail to protect from COVID-19
A J. Reuben Long Detention Center detainee says jail staff refuses to let him and others wear a mask to protect against COVID-19.
Theodore Bolick made the claims in a hand-written lawsuit filed last week in Horry County Court. He is representing himself in the case. He filed suit against Horry County Sheriff Phillip Thompson, who oversees the jail, and other administrators.
Bolick says multiple inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. While jail staff all have masks, the prisoners are being denied face coverings.
He also notes the detainees can’t social distance because of jail policies.
Bolick, who is jail on three counts of failure to appear for court, argues he the jail denies him the ability to protect himself from coronavirus.
Horry County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Brooke Holden said the office could not comment on a pending lawsuit.n early April, the office announced that staff members contracted COVID-19, and they were removed from the jail. Inmates who had close contact with that employee went into quarantine.
To date, 22 detention center employees have tested positive for COVID-19. There have been 130 negative tests.
Thompson and Chief Deputy Tom Fox have previously talked about keeping people in jail at the detention center.
Fox said in April that officers were issued protective gear while working in the detention center. Detainees are screened and questioned about their possible COVID exposure when they arrive at the jail. If someone has a fever, they are moved to a segregated area away from others.
Each housing unit is being monitored and temperatures are taken as needed, Fox said.
“We greatly reduced the movement of inmates within the facility so we don’t cross-contaminate the different housing units,” Fox said.
This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 10:29 AM.
