In last week’s edition of The ‘Times,’ we published an article about a special-called meeting of the Freestone County Commissioner’s Court regarding lack of inmate housing space at the Jail, and law enforcement concerns on arrestees being turned away.
Spurring this meeting were letters from the Teague and Wortham Chiefs of Police expressing their concerns for public and officer safety.
One major incident cited by Wortham’s Interim Police Chief Kelly Craig stated that on the night of May 24th “two paramedics from Fairfield EMS were transporting a patient that attempted to stab them with a knife. The two medics were eventually able to disarm the subject, during what they felt was a life-or-death struggle for the knife. The incident in the back of the ambulance was caught on video and clearly showed the struggle. Two felony arrest warrants were issued for his arrest, and he was also refused at the jail.”
According to the Officer’s Affidavit, just before 11:00 p.m. that evening, Freestone County Deputies were dispatched to the area of FM 488 and US Highway 287 in reference to EMS personnel fighting a combative patient wielding a knife. Volunteer firemen arrived on scene before Deputies and EMS personnel were able to wrestle the knife away from the subject. They then transported the patient to UT Athens Hospital.
Once returning to Fairfield, EMS and Deputies contacted Justice of the Peace Pct. 3 Cinnamon Archibald, who reviewed video footage of the incident.
On the footage, the subject asks where they are going. A paramedic informed him they were taking him to the hospital, at which point the patient stated that he was going to slit the paramedic’s throat while brandishing a “ZT” pocketknife.
As the paramedics wrestled the knife away from the patient, he continued to taunt them and stated that he was going to kill them.
Judge Archibald immediately issued a warrant for two First Degree Felonies, and Deputies headed to the hospital to arrest the patient. However, upon arrival, they discovered that the patient had already checked himself out and headed home.
Now this is where the conflicting information comes in. Several sources say that Deputies were told NOT to bring him to the jail because there was no room. The Wortham PD letter says, “he was refused at the jail.”
However, Freestone County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley says, “I don’t know where this misinformation is coming from. I spoke with my Deputies, and they said that was not true.”
Shipley does say that while space is often limited or at capacity at the jail, there have been plenty of open beds for the past 3.5 weeks. “Bed space is an issue, and we have to do what we can until that issue is fixed.”
“We have been dealing with an overcrowding since I took office in 2015,” says Judge Archibald. “You would be amazed on how much we spend housing inmates in other counties and on repairs! Our tax dollars have helped to build two new jails for Limestone County. I think it’s finally our turn to get a new jail and keep our tax money here in Freestone County!”
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1 Theresa Farris added, “Freestone County voters, a serious issue demands our collective attention. Our jail is experiencing severe overcrowding, resulting in substantial financial burdens due to the need to house offenders in other facilities. Unfortunately, our local jail is currently accommodating a sizable number of sex offenders, family violence offenders, and major drug offenders.”
She goes on to say, “The Sheriff is working diligently to manage this situation within a jail built during a bygone era. We encourage you to discuss this pressing matter with your commissioner, with the goal of constructing a new, more modern jail to address these pressing concerns. Times have changed. Our jail can only hold so many people. The jail is way behind time. It’s not the Sheriff’s fault. He’s only working with what he has. Everything in the jail is obsolete and old. The jail was built when we had maybe 1 police officer and probably 2 deputies. Crime has increased 100 times since then.”
Farris concludes by saying, “I saw 13 people in a weeks’ time. Our jail holds maybe 5 females and 35 males. Overflow goes to Limestone County where taxpayers pay thousands a year to house them. Tell me where the problem is. This is something that has been bothering me for over 20 years.”
As for the individual, Mark Modlin was given the opportunity to turn himself in and did so three days after the May 24th incident.
Modlin was charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault Against Public Servant. Judge Archibald set his bond at $250,000 per charge, totaling $500,000.
The ‘Times’ will continue to follow this story.
