Barton Street jail was a ‘hostile’ environment at time of inmate death, coroner’s inquest hears

On Feb. 15, 2015, there was “a great deal of hostility,” at the Barton Street jail, says former correctional officer Chris Pedlar which was directed at him.

READ MORE: Cononer’s inquest hears inmate asked to be put on methadone for addiction two months before his death

He testified before a coroner’s inquest into eight inmate deaths, on Monday, as part of the evidence related to the case of Stephen Neeson.

Around the time of his death, Pedlar explained the jail was in lockdown. Inmates were unable to leave their cells for more than four days straight. This caused boredom, Pedlar testified, and high anxiety on unit 5C, where Neeson’s cell was located.

He told the inquest at the time he was thinking to himself, “I just want to get these guys unlocked before they riot on me.”

The lockdown had been issued because a pair of nail clippers were missing, he said. Correctional staff were in protective gear searching the institution. Unit 5C, he notes, became aware that other areas of the jail were no longer in lockdown, making the inmates further agitated.

“It was not a normal day,” he explained. By the morning of Feb. 15, he told the jury that he had to open the meal hatch on each cell door in the hopes of letting fresh air into a what had become a stagnant environment. Inmates were working out to pass the time, he said, and many of the toilets had become plugged.

According to an agreed statement of facts by 9:30 a.m., the lockdown was lifting. Inmates who worked as cleaners had been released to perform their duties but it wasn’t long before they were told to return to their cells.

“I heard one of the inmates say, ‘He’s not waking up, he’s not moving,'” Pedlar told the jury.”That’s a CO’s worst nightmare.”

Kari Antilla, a sergeant who responded to the “code white,” gave testimony, on Monday, that he found Neeson laying on his mattress, on his back with hands folded. He looked like a normal person sleeping, he said, and then he noticed the rigor mortis.

The agreed statement of facts regarding Neeson makes note of “fishing” activity happening between cells on Feb. 14, 2015. It also lists the numerous times a nurse visited his cell to administer medication.

The inquest heard from Pedlar about the process in place to ensure drug hoarding wasn’t happening, something which he said happened quite a bit at the jail.

Pedlar said he would accompany a nurse who would put medication through the meal hatch. From there, they would watch medication being taken through a small window.

READ MORE: Barton Street jail to add 4 ‘addictions nurses’ to help manage opioid crisis, inquest told

Outside of the inquest, Wade Poziomka, representing the Prisoners HIV/AIDS Support action network took issue with what he heard.

“It sort of came out [Monday] the medication was administered in a way that is inconsistent with the policy the ministry has in place,” he said. “I think when the policies aren’t followed, you’ll have things like this happening, hoarding of medication and ultimately, it might lead to what we’re seeing here — eight deaths in a four-year period at the Hamilton jail.”

A search of Neeson’s cell after his death led to the discovery of four pills that nursing staff identified as his medication, the inquest heard.

Toxicology shows a number of drugs in his system. Although individually, the reports determined they are not at “toxic” levels, together, Dr. John Fernandes testified, they could have depressive effects on the respiratory system.

“We’re here ultimately making an argument to have a jury come back with recommendations that will hopefully make some changes to policies when the policies themselves aren’t being followed,” said Poziomka. “So I wonder sometimes if we’re wasting our time or not.”