The wife of a 72-year-old veteran who was beaten to death by his cellmate at the Macon County Jail has filed a civil rights lawsuit against three deputies, alleging severe negligence and dismissal of her husband’s pleas for help.
John Reed, who was using a cane, motorized wheelchair, and requiring 24-hour oxygen for his lung disease, was apprehended for suspected driving under the influence. His jail experience turned horrific when he was placed in the same holding cell with Daniel Pollard, 24, who had previous violent offenses and significant mental health issues. According to the lawsuit, Reed was fatally attacked on October 22, shortly before he was due for release.
“This is one of the worst cases of prison neglect I’ve seen,” stated civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers, representing Reed's wife, Regene Brantley-Reed. Attorneys argue the deputies were aware of the assault yet failed to provide necessary medical assistance or separate the two men during the incident.
Pollard has been charged with murder for his role in Reed's death. His attorney, Jennifer Tompkins, noted extreme mental health difficulties, commenting, “This is probably one of the worst cases I’ve ever had” concerning mental health and violence.
Questions arise about the rationale behind placing Reed, who was arrested for a minor misdemeanor, alongside someone with Pollard's violent history. Attorney Chuck James pointedly questioned the decisions made by the deputies, highlighting missed opportunities to safeguard Reed’s life. “These deputies had multiple opportunities to do the right thing,” he explained. “If they had, John Reed would be alive today.”
Compounding concerns about the case is the state of mental health resources within Alabama. Tompkins stated, “The mental health system is so broken...we’re creating a bad environment for not only other inmates but for the jailers too.”
Regene Brantley-Reed described the unbearable wait outside the jail, where she had less than $300 to bail her husband out. Little did she know, as she waited for nearly two hours, her husband was being brutally assaulted inside. After first responders arrived, she learned the tragic news of Reed's death. “They wouldn’t even let me see my husband’s body,” she recounted. “They knew he was being attacked, and they did nothing.”
The shocking nature of Reed's injuries necessitated posthumous alterations, as his wife had to provide photographs to the funeral director to reconstruct his face for his final viewing.
Brantley-Reed emphasized her husband’s loving personality, reflecting on their 16-year relationship: “There wasn't a day he didn’t make me laugh.” Now, she faces the heartbreaking reality of her 95-year-old mother-in-law, who suffers from dementia and grieves the loss of her son daily.
“It was just so unexpected and so crazy how it happened. Sometimes, I can't even get a grip on it,” Brantley-Reed said, her voice filled with sorrow.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for damages one would expect for such tragedy, emphasizing the compound neglect faced by vulnerable inmates like Reed and the urgent need for reform within Alabama's correctional facilities.
Reed, an honorable veteran who served his country, died under circumstances described by many as preventable. His attorneys expressed their belief not only in seeking justice for him but also addressing the broader jail conditions and mental health crises affecting others.
Macon County, located about 40 miles east of Montgomery, now finds itself facing scrutiny due to this case, with advocates calling it a true disaster resulting from systemic failures within the jail and the mental health care system.
This heartbreaking incident raises questions not just about Reed’s tragic fate but also about the lack of needed reforms and protective measures for all vulnerable individuals within the criminal justice system. How many more lives must be lost before meaningful change occurs?