Haywood Dixon Jr.
Haywood Dixon Jr., 39, of Lancaster, died at York County Prison in the early hours of July 7, 2023, after he was held there. Staff tased him and placed him in a restraint chair, and the family's federal wrongful death lawsuit says staff failed to give him timely medical care for hours, though. The York County coroner ruled the death natural, citing cardiac arrest caused by a blood clot in his lungs while he was restrained, and the prison's own records say he had declined routine medical care the day before. The district attorney said he had chest pain and shortness of breath before he was tased and that proper de-escalation techniques were not used, and said no criminal charges would be filed. His family's attorney, Joseph Silvestro, said that had his medical needs been taken seriously, it would have saved his life.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The York County coroner ruled the death natural, citing cardiac arrest from a blood clot in his lungs while he was restrained, but his family's lawsuit says staff failed to give timely medical care for hours after he was tased and restrained, and the district attorney said medical experts found his condition survivable.
Reported by: York County coroner (medical examiner or coroner); York County District Attorney Tim Barker (outside investigators); York County grand investigating jury (outside investigators); York County detectives, in a press release (outside investigators); his family's federal wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued in federal court over his death at York County Prison, alleging staff tased, restrained and failed to give timely medical care to him, but no settlement or award amount is reported.
Sources (11)
- Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, Death in Custody Reporting Act dashboard
- York County Prison inmate dies after suffering overnight cardiac arrest, police say
- Inmate dies at York County Prison
- Everett Palmer's family to receive $1.5M settlement following jail death
- York County Leads Pennsylvania in Restraint Chair Use, Despite Deadly History
- Pennsylvania County Continues Using Deadly Restraint Chairs
- Authorities provide update on 2023 inmate death investigation at York County Prison
- Jury recommends culture shift, more training at York prison after inmate's 2023 death
- Deceased York County Prison inmate's condition was 'survivable,' DA says
- He Almost Died From A Burst Appendix. A For-Profit Jail Medical Provider Dismissed It As Heartburn.
- Coroner | Haywood Dixon Jr. died of cardiac arrest while restrained in York County Prison