Family calls for change after son with autism dies following incident in Montgomery County jail
An Ohio family claims their son's cries for help were ignored while he was in the Montgomery County jail.
The 19-year-old, who had autism, ended up dying.
Now his family is suing and calling for change and more awareness when it comes to law enforcement officers dealing with people with autism.
Isaiah Trammell's family wants the world to remember their son a a 19-year-old with a big heart and a voice he loved to share.
"We told him you can do anything you want in the world," said his father, Celsey Trammell. "Just because you might be neurodivergent doesn't mean you can't be successful."
Isaiah's dreams of becoming a music artist came to an end following his arrest on March 13, 2023.
"Isaiah was having a bad night," Celsey Trammell said.
The teenager had previously moved out on his own and was living in an apartment in Lebanon.
"He was having a mental health episode and a lot of anxiety, and he was getting loud and getting very vocal," Celsey Trammell said.
Not knowing what was going on, a neighbor called 911. Lebanon police responded.
"He expressed to them he was suicidal," Celsey Trammell said.
Officers transferred Isaiah to Montgomery County where he had an outstanding domestic violence warrant, a warrant his family said was mistakenly issued.
"In the past, when he had episodes like that before, and we've done wellness checks, they would come, and they would transfer him to the hospital, and he would get the help he needed. That didn't happen that night at all. He didn't get the help he needed," Celsey Trammell said.
Isaiah was booked into the Montgomery County jail where he can be seen on video repeatedly banging his head on the door.
"When Isaiah would get overstimulated, he would bang his head to help him calm down," Celsey Trammell said. "It is something he couldn't control."
Isaiah's actions landed him in a restraint chair twice.
"And that was one of Isaiah's triggers," Celsey Trammell said.
He said even a seatbelt was sensory overload for his son.
"Mentally he cannot process what's happening," Celsey Trammell said.
While in the restraint chair, jail cameras show Isaiah screaming.
"Please, please. I'm shaking. I'm shaking," he yelled.
Jail staff can be seen photographing the swelling on his head as Isaiah asked for medication.
"Can you please help me get out of here and get to a better spot?" Isaiah said.
"I couldn't imagine what he went through. There's no way I can imagine the torture, the thoughts," Celsey Trammell said.
At one point, a medical worker appeared to calm Isaiah down.
"In through the nose, out through the mouth. Can you calm down for me?" the employee said.
Celsey Trammell said ten hours after Isaiah was first booked into jail, he started going in and out of consciousness.
"That's when they made the determination, OK, it's probably time to transport him to the hospital," Celsey Trammell said.
Isaiah died three days later from complications of blunt force head trauma.
The coroner ruled his death a suicide.
"I'm disappointed that no one got him the help that he needed," Celsey Trammell said. "I don't believe anybody has been trained on how to handle a neurodivergent with sensory issues."
Isaiah's family has now filed a federal civil suit against Montgomery County and Naphcare, the company contracted to provide medical care to inmates.
"How many more neurodivergents have had to suffer like Isaiah through this because of inadequate training, inadequate medical facilities, not the right mental health providers?" Celsey Trammell said. "There needs to be a way for these folks to identify people like Isaiah and the biggest thing I think is a culture change within our jails. The way we handle humans."
Isaiah's voice may be gone, but his family believes it still needs to be heard 바카라 게임 웹사이트 in their fight for justice, for better care and deeper understanding of people with autism.
A spokesperson for Montgomery County told 바카라게임 in a statement, "It is not Montgomery County's practice to comment on pending litigation."
Naphcare did not return our message seeking comment.