Incidents in jail not related

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A large jail population over the past year — and especially in recent months — has led to incidents that, while unrelated, are happening more frequently.

“That limits us on people getting spread out,” undersheriff Larry Starkey said. “I don’t remember that many females in there before. They used to cycle in and out, and the males did, too. For some reason they aren’t able to find anyone who can help them.”

The jail, with an original capacity of 35, held 20 inmates Monday. Eight were female. Original specifications set aside only eight beds for female inmates. At the time, that number widely exceeded the total number of female inmates ever held.

A Sunday disturbance at the jail resulted in all available deputies being summoned to help with a fight in Pod B.

Starkey said a couple inmates had an argument that turned into “a little bit of a fight, not much.”

He said he didn’t know what provoked the dispute.

“When you’ve got that many people living that close to the bank, it’s hard to get away from people,” he said.

Deputies also were summoned to the jail last week because Rexana Siebert left her cell and refused to walk back in. She had walked out when deputies came in to give her medication.

Siebert was most recently jailed July 28 on suspicion of interference with law enforcement, battery on a law enforcement officer, and domestic battery. That court case remains ongoing along with another case earlier filed alleging battery on a law enforcement officer.

Monday evening, an ambulance was sent to the jail for an injured inmate. The inmate was taken to St. Luke Hospital.

“The one last night actually wasn’t a disturbance,” Starkey said. “We had one who fell in the shower and had a bump on the head.”

The inmate was treated at the hospital and released and taken back to jail, Starkey said.

Deputies rushed to the jail with lights and sirens, and Starkey and sheriff Jeff Soyez came on duty to report to St. Luke.

Starkey and Soyez went to the hospital to free up deputies so they could return to road duties.

“A lot of times, when we go out at night, that’s what we’re doing, we’re just seeing what they’re dealing with,” Starkey said. “We’re pretty much willing to do what we can to make the department the best it can be.”