Crime & Safety

Lake Co. Jail Officers Fired Following Investigation Into Grayslake Man's Death

An investigation into the death of a 51-year-old Grayslake man who suffered paralysis and eventually died following a confrontation with officers  at the Lake County Jail has revealed "mismanagement in the jail, falsified logbooks, poor supervision and other problems," according to the Daily Herald.

As a result of the investigation, three Lake County jail officers have been fired and one guard was demoted this past week while six other jail employees face disciplinary actions, according to the Daily Herald. 

Eugene Gruber was arrested on Oct. 31, 2011; repeatedly fought with jail guards; and at one point was placed in a "takedown hold" when both Gruber and an officer fell to the ground, according to the article. 

While lawsuits filed in the case allege officers dragged Gruber, a homeless man, through the jail and beat him, police on Wednesday said it was the fall that led to the medical issues for Gruber, according to WGN-TV. 

Gruber was left on a jail bed for 15 hours and was not taken to a hospital until the next day, according to WGN-TV. He "suffered spinal injuries, became paralyzed, and died six months later." 

Read more on the Daily Herald. 




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