Lowndes County Sheriff Butch Howard wanted to clear up any confusion with the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors regarding the release of a shooting suspect earlier this month.
Howard brought up the incident at Friday’s supervisors meeting, saying the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center was never so over-crowded that they could not house the suspect.
“Within five minutes, we found room for the inmate,” Howard said.
Columbus police took James Demont Douglas, 30, into custody Oct. 5. According to police, Douglas fired a single gunshot at Bernard Antonio Harris at the intersection of Ninth Street South and Main Street.
Douglas was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle with injuries to his left eye and left ankle stemming from the incident, police said.
According to a press release from the Columbus Police Department, Investigator Raymond Hackler asked a Lowndes County Adult Detention Center jailer about the policy on booking and housing an injured person. The release stated Douglas was required a single cell by himself, and Hackler was told there was no single-cell space available.
Hackler then released Douglas from custody with pending charges. Douglas turned himself in Oct. 7.
According to Howard, the single cells were full, and the CPD was informed of such. However, Howard said a jail employee found a wire cage in the booking area that could be used as a holding cell and informed CPD via telephone call.
It is unknown whether Douglas was already released from custody.
Earlier in the meeting, District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks asked Howard how many inmates were at the LCADC and what the maximum population is. Howard said there are around 270-280 inmates and the maximum population the LCADC can hold is 286.
District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders asked whether adult inmates could be housed in open cells at the Lowndes County Juvenile Detention Center. Howard said juvenile offenders cannot be near adult inmates.
Interim Columbus Police Chief Selvain McQueen said Assistant Police Chief Joe Johnson informed him of Douglas’ release, but McQueen was unaware that Douglas was not arrested and charged. McQueen said once he found out he immediately ordered a warrant for arrest. He is conducting an internal investigation regarding how the situation was handled.
McQueen said people have asked him if the CPD has holding cells to use. He said there are “temporary holding facilities,” but they were not to be used for this situation.
“We’re not a certified jail facility nor do we have any people who are certified jailers,” McQueen said.
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