Melvin C. Woods Jr.
Melvin C. Woods Jr., a 62-year-old man, was held at the Calumet District police station on Chicago's Far South Side in November 2011. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death a suicide by hanging in his cell. His daughter, Mary Woods, sued the city of Chicago, saying it failed to prevent the hanging and did not have adequate policies to stop people in its custody from harming themselves. The lawsuit seeks more than $200,000 in damages. The city's Law Department said it had not seen the suit and could not comment.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death a suicide by hanging, but his daughter Mary Woods's lawsuit says the city failed to prevent the hanging and lacked policies to stop prisoners from harming themselves.
Reported by: Cook County Medical Examiner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); Mary Woods (daughter), lawsuit against the city of Chicago (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His daughter, Mary Woods, sued the city of Chicago over his death, claiming the city failed to prevent the hanging, and the city's Law Department said it could not comment on the suit.