Story originally printed in the Tomah Journal or online at www.tomahjournal.com
Published - Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Man in critical condition after jail altercation with Tomah teen
A 32-year-old Burnsville, Minn., man remained in critical condition at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Friday, from injuries he sustained after being in an altercation while in custody at the Vernon County Jail in Viroqua, Sunday.
According to the Vernon County Sheriff’s Department, Nathan G. Newport was first transported to Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua then Gundersen Lutheran after the incident. Newport suffered head injuries.
Newport was in an altercation with another inmate, Leonard T. Figgins, 18, Tomah. Both inmates were transfer-inmates from Monroe County.
A total of 13 inmates were in the jail cell pod where the altercation took place. The 11 other inmates did not become involved. The incident was videotaped and jail staff intervened in the incident within 13 seconds of its start.
Vernon County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jim Hanson said the incident has been referred to the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Department for review and investigation. The investigation will then be submitted to the district attorney or a special prosecutor for further review.
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