Garfield County has agreed to pay $2.5 million to the family of a 36-year-old man, Kyle Lara, who tragically committed suicide while in custody at the county courthouse. The settlement was reached before the claim progressed to a lawsuit, and it highlights the dire conditions that Lara was subjected to during his detention.
Lara was placed in solitary confinement in a dank basement cell after being arrested for suspicion of domestic violence. The family’s claim alleged that officials ignored signs that Lara was at risk of self-harm and failed to provide adequate supervision. Lara’s body was reportedly not found for 18 hours, and jail officials even served food to his corpse, indicating a severe lack of oversight and care.
The family’s attorney described the conditions of Lara’s confinement as the worst he had ever seen and emphasized that they were unacceptable in any civilized society. Lara had a history of expressing suicidal thoughts, and the claim cited concerns about housing potentially suicidal individuals in isolation, likening it to “throwing gasoline on a fire.”
Furthermore, the claim revealed that the county’s jail policy was not being followed properly, as dispatchers, who are not trained corrections officers, were responsible for monitoring inmates and the facility. This lack of proper staffing and monitoring likely contributed to the tragic outcome in Lara’s case.
The settlement agreement also outlined that the county would no longer operate its own jail but instead contract with neighboring counties for inmate housing. If the county were to establish its own jail in the future, it would need to adhere to state and federal regulations and provide training for correctional staff.
The circumstances leading to Lara’s suicide were preventable, and his family hopes that the settlement will prompt much-needed reforms in the county’s jail system. While the settlement cannot bring back their loved one, they find comfort in the fact that Garfield County has committed to improving its practices to ensure that no one else will suffer inhumane conditions like Lara did.
The tragic loss of Kyle Lara serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of proper mental health care and supervision in correctional facilities. The family’s hope is that by shedding light on this case, other counties and facilities will take proactive measures to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
