Lillington, NC – The family of a deceased Harnett County inmate has initiated legal action against local law enforcement officials, alleging negligence and civil rights violations inside the jail that led to the inmate’s untimely death from a violent cellmate encounter last year.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the late William Earl Surles, who was 64 at the time of his death in December 2022. Surles’ family contends that their patriarch’s death was both unnecessary and avoidable, accusing Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats along with jail deputies and the county’s insurer of failing to prevent the fatal incident.
At the heart of their grievance, the lawsuit points to a critical and allegedly reckless decision by jail personnel who placed 26-year-old Devonte Jamal Headen, a man later charged with first-degree murder in Surles’ death, in the same cell. Headen, described in the lawsuit as extremely violent, had reportedly injured multiple inmates and correctional officers prior to the incident.
Matthew Ballew, representing the Surles family, emphasized the alarming nature of the jail’s actions. “Placing Mr. Surles with a known violent inmate particularly disregarded his safety — a misjudgment that cost Surles his life in what should have been a secure environment,” Ballew stated.
Surles was in a medically fragile state following a recent hospitalization for toe amputation, a consequence of diabetes complications, which required close medical supervision. At the time of the fatal altercation, he was nearing the end of a 30-day jail sentence for a probation violation related to a DWI charge.
His family pointed out the deep irony and tragedy of his death occurring just days before his slated release. According to Lawanda Snead, Surles’ daughter, and spokesperson for the family, the sense of loss is compounded by the preventability of the events that led to it.
The legal action taken by Surles’ family also represents a wider call for accountability and reform in the management and operational standards within the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office. The office has faced scrutiny over multiple lawsuits in recent years concerning the treatment of inmates and other serious allegations of misconduct.
Antonio Surles, Mr. Surles’ grandson, echoed a sentiment of broader justice and awareness rather than mere financial compensation. “Our fight is to ensure that no other family has to endure such a preventable loss due to oversight and failure in duty,” he told reporters.
Officials from the sheriff’s department have yet to formally receive the lawsuit and thus have refrained from commenting on the ongoing legal proceeding.
A study into the sheriff’s operational practices reflected a pattern of criticism and legal action, signaling potential systemic issues that could influence future policies and corrections in inmate treatment and jail management.
The unfolding lawsuit not only seeks justice for William Earl Surles but also highlights the urgent need for revising inmate safety protocols and ensuring that officers and jail employees receive the necessary training to manage volatile environments effectively.
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