LAWRENCE COUNTY - AUGUST 27, 2023 - On Saturday, August 26th, inmate Damien Pinnick (38 years old of Mitchell) died of an apparent medical event while incarcerated at the Lawrence County Jail.
Out of an abundance of caution, and as a way to be completely transparent, Sheriff Greg Day requested Indiana State Police detectives conduct a thorough investigation into the death. Preliminary information shows that Pinnick was housed in a cell by himself in “M” Block at the Lawrence County Security Center.
Correctional Officers had made multiple contacts with Pinnick throughout Saturday morning. Around noon, an officer supplied Pinnick with his lunch tray and had a brief conversation with him.
A short time later, when officers were picking up the lunch trays, Pinnick was found unresponsive in his cell. Officers attempted life saving measures, including CPR and the use of an AED, however those efforts were unsuccessful. IU Health EMS responded to the jail as well, but Pinnick was pronounced deceased.
An autopsy was completed that same day. At this time, it appears that Pinnick suffered from a possible seizure, which led to his death.
Toxicology results are pending and notification has been made to Pinnick’s family. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Officers, Lawrence County Corrections Officers, Indiana State Police Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators, IU Health Lifeline EMS, and the Lawrence County Coroner’s Office all assisted with the response and investigation.
Pinnick has been lodged at the facility for more than 25 days after he was arrested by Mitchell Police Department on August 1, 2023 at the Shell Station on Indiana State Road 37 and Main Street in Mitchell.
Pinnick was the passenger in the vehicle and was arrested after he handed the officer a marijuana pipe.
Officer found a small baggie containing crystal meth and another smoking device with meth residue in the center console of the vehicle following the search of the vehicle he was in.
Pinnick faced Level - 6 Felony charge of Possession of Meth, and Possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia.
Pinnick was being represented by attorney Adam Larimer.
A bail review hearing was scheduled on August 31, 2023.
In 2021 there were a total of two inmate deaths in the Lawrence County Jail.
The Lawrence County Security Center contracts with Advanced Correctional Healthcare for physicians support and in October 2021 , a full- time nurse and two part time nurses ; who are registered nurses oversee the medical needs of the inmates.
" there are not enough staff to monitor our medical needs, medications that we need," an the inmate did not want to be identified due to pending legal issues told the Lawrence County Zephyr.
The interview took place about two weeks prior to the incident on Saturday. The inmate expressing concerns about medical care.
" The nurse in the three days never performed any medical evaluations, and I never received any of my medications that were prescribed me. The jailers are over worked and they are busy at meal times just to get the inmates fed. We receive two meals and a sack lunch of an evening. I never once saw any medical staff,"
" The failure to monitor these medical needs and their failure to do so will only lead to lawsuits in the future, inmates themselves have no recourse we are at their mercy. Sometimes there are three inmates to a cell, with one sleeping on the floor," the former inmate told the Lawrence County who has since been released.
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