Officers get community service, $1K fine after inmate's death
Officers get community service, $1K fine after inmate's death
Four corrections officers have been sentenced for their roles in the death of Paul Bulthouse, who died after suffering 18 seizures in the Muskegon County Jail in 2019.
Deputies Jeffery Patterson, Crystal Greve, Jamal Lane and Sgt. David Vanderlaan all pled no contest to willful neglect of duty, a misdemeanor.
They were immediately sentenced to 100 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine.
The officers were originally charged with involuntary manslaughter, a felony offense punishable by up to 15 years if convicted.
“I remain committed to protecting all residents of the State of Michigan, including those in the custody of law enforcement," said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
“Every person deserves to be treated with care and dignity, and to have the sanctity of their life valued, and we are committed to ensuring that our laws and law enforcement officials reflect the highest standards.” Nessel said.
According to the Michigan Department of Attorney General, Bulthouse was being held in the Muskegon County Jail on a probation violation at the time of his death.
He was booked into the facility on March 22, 2019, and his health quickly began to deteriorate, the AG's Office said in a press release.
"Bulthouse was on a suicide watch and was being monitored for drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms and mental health issues," the AG's Office said.
"During the night of April 3, 2019, and the very early morning of April 4, 2019, surveillance video captured Bulthouse suffering from approximately 18 seizures while locked in his solitary cell," the AG's office said.
Throughout that time, the four deputies were seen on surveillance footage conducting "quick, in-person checks" into Bulthouse's cell as well as observing his cell through a closed-circuit monitor.
"At no point did any of the deputies attempt to ensure medical care for the prisoner," the AG's office said.
At 6 a.m. on April 4, around the time of the deputy shift change, Bulthouse was found lying on the ground unclothed in a pool of his own urine.
The AG's Office said Bulthouse was discovered by a deputy who was not assigned to Bulthouse's floor at the time of his seizures.
Bulthouse's approximate time of death was listed at 5:30 a.m. on April 4, 2019.
The AG's Office said the Muskegon County Sheriff's Office has made "significant changes" after Bulthouse's death.
These changes include a change in the jail's medical service provider as well as requiring deputies to wear body cameras and microphones.
The AG's office said it would work with the legislature to do the following:
Require jail correction staff to meet accreditation standards;
Strengthen consequences, including termination, for when jail correction staff do not meet or violate those standards; and,
Create a list of convictions that would prohibit a person from serving as jail correction staff.
The AG's office stated that Bulthouse's family is "deeply troubled" by the care he received at the jail, and "expressed concern" that the deputies will remain in their positions at the Sheriff's Office.