Deward Burton Johnson
Deward Burton Johnson, 52, died on March 14, 2024, while held at the Hamilton County Jail in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His family's lawsuit says jail staff drew his blood, found drugs in his system, and placed him in a holding cell without water or monitoring. The suit says staff delayed responding to people in the jail who were calling for help, that he became unresponsive, and that prompt care would have saved him. Hamilton County and Sheriff Austin Garrett have been sued for negligence, and the article reports they were contacted for comment.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (neglect alleged). His family's lawsuit says jail staff delayed responding to inmates calling for help and left him without water or monitoring in a holding cell while he became unresponsive after drug exposure.
Reported by: his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued Hamilton County and Sheriff Austin Garrett over his death in the Hamilton County Jail, and no settlement or award amount was reported.