Dothan jail inmate dies after fight with another inmate; second inmate charged
6/6/2005, 7:11 p.m. CT
The Associated Press
DOTHAN, Ala. (AP) — A Dothan inmate has been charged with manslaughter in the death of another inmate, who died following a physical altercation between the two women in a day room inside the city jail, police said Monday.
Dothan Police Chief John Powell said Terreko Thomas, 24, was charged in connection with the death of Arnetta Reeves, 37. Reeves lost consciousness Thursday morning after a fight with Thomas at the Dothan City Jail and spent two days on life support before she died late Saturday.
Both were being held in jail on petty theft charges. Jail officials said Thomas struck Reeves in the head when a verbal argument turned physical.
"They were arguing over who could smoke," Capt. Nick Monday said.
Powell said jail officers separated the inmates and the two women were seated at a table.
Reeves got up to return to her cell on the jail's second floor moments later, but became weak and slumped to the floor. Guards administered first aid and called for emergency medical technicians. She was transported to Southeast Alabama Medical Center by ambulance.
Officials said Monday that an autopsy showed Reeves died of a pre-existing aneurism aggravated by the scuffle.
Thomas remains at the jail and no bond has been set, officials said.
Powell said the Alabama Bureau of Investigation is looking into the incident.
Inmate charged with manslaughter in fellow inmate's death
By Mark Randall / Eagle Staff Writer
June 7, 2005
a female Dothan City Jail inmate was charged with manslaughter following an altercation that resulted in another inmates death.
Terreko Demese Thomas, 24, was charged Monday with the death of Arnetta Ommiga Reeves.
Reeves, 37, died Saturday after spending two days on life support following a fight in the jail with Thomas, according to police.
Authorities said the two got into a verbal argument in a day room inside the jail and Thomas punched Reeves in the head.
"They were arguing over who could smoke," Capt. Nick Monday said.
Guards separated the two women but Reeves later became weak and collapsed on her way back to her second floor cell.
She was given first aid and later transported by ambulance to Southeast Alabama Medical Center.
Reeves’ condition was originally listed as critical and she was placed in the Intensive Care Unit where it was believed she was suffering from a ruptured aneurism in her head.
An autopsy performed Monday confirmed that Reeves died from the aneurism and that the altercation in the jail had aggravated the pre-existing condition.
Chief John Powell said the two women did not have any previous history of arguments in the jail, but said Thomas did file a number of complaints about conditions in the jail, one of which mentioned Reeves by name.
"It wasn’t specifically against her (Reeves)," Powell said. "It was against several girls in there mostly over noise. It wasn’t a peaceful environment."
Monday said jail officials get complaints from inmates on a regular basis and each complaint is investigated.
"Any complaint is cause for concern," Monday said. "But that’s not unusual when people come to jail. They file complaints about everything. They don’t like the food or they complain about other inmates."
Monday said Thomas also complained about a number of other inmates.
Guards did remove Thomas from the cell at one point to help her out, Powell said, but there was never any indication of a problem between the two women.
"Nothing like that," Powell said.
Both women were serving jail time for petty theft.
Powell has asked the Alabama Bureau of Investigations to look into the altercation. No jail officers were involved, however.
"It’s not a criminal investigation. They are there to make sure we did what we were supposed to do," Powell said. "If they identify something we did wrong or need to do better, I’ll take steps to see that it is done."
Powell said there was little anyone could have done to prevent the incident from happening.
Thomas remains in the Dothan City Jail and no bond has yet been set.
Dothan jail inmate dies after fight with another inmate; second inmate charged
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