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 Home > News > Story

Published - Wednesday, June 18, 2008

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Man in critical condition after jail altercation with Tomah teen

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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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unknown wrote on Aug 4, 2008 1:31 AM:

" angela if u knew ur fact u would know leonard was using self defence nathen freakin started it so u need 2 shut up!!! "

GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT wrote on Jun 25, 2008 6:12 PM:

" ITS CRAZY HOW EVERYONE CAN READ A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE AND THINK THEY KNOW THE WHOLE STORY. YES LEONARDS "UNCLE" TRIED TO HELP HIS FAMILY. BUT TELL ME HOW A PERSON WITH THEIR OWN ADDICTIONS TRY TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE. HIS "UNCLE" IS NOT A SAINT. SORRY TO TELL YOU BUT I KNOW THIS FROM FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE. LEONARD HAD TO PROTECT HIMSELF. HE IS NOT A MONSTER & IS A YOUNG ADULT IN NEED OF SOME GUIDENCE & POSITIVE SUPPORT. THIS MAN THAT HE FOUGHT WAS HARRASSING HIM AND CALLING HIM DEROGATORY NAMES. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD WAS VERY MUCH BIGGER THAN LEONARD. SO TO ALL YOU HATING WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO WITH YOUR LIVES BUT TALK ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT FIRST. LOVE YOU NEPHEW! "

you know wrote on Jun 23, 2008 6:10 PM:

" well you know what...i dont care what you people say... ok cause that guys leonard beat the crap out of got what he gets.. that guy should NOT bein callin him a nigga idc... so talk all you want to people "

wrote on Jun 23, 2008 8:27 AM:

" Isn't this the kid whose Uncle tried to straighten out, because his father is also in prison, & his family life was not someplace you would want to raise a kid? I commend his Uncle for trying, but by the time Leonard made it to Tomah, he has already witnessed enough in his young life to think that it was the "norm". Honestly , I don't feel he deserves to live the life of "luxury" in prison either. They eat three square meals a day, have libraries to access, workout facilities.... get my drift. Inmates live a better life than poverty striken families!!!! "

Cell Pod wrote on Jun 19, 2008 5:05 PM:

" Hey, at least they got to the person within 13 sec., that is pretty good timing. Unfortunately this monster went for the head of the victim and not one of the fellow inmates did anything to stop it. The response time by the officer's was VERY quick. But then again, people can stand around and watch a man literally be beat to death because of alcohol, outside a bar and that is okay. I think they did an excellent job in responding so quickly. What else COULD have been done?? This guy was a walking time bomb ready to explode and he did, hope he gets a long long time to think about what he did, preferably in solitary confindment, as he obviously can't get along in ANY society. "

RE to a cell wrote on Jun 19, 2008 4:12 PM:

" A pod is roughly equivalent to the old term "cell block." It's an area with several cells in it and a common area where jail inmates are free to mill about, watch TV, play cards, and all kinds of other things that criminals need so that their stay in jail isn't too tough on them. Several "pods" have large glass walls, and are positioned around a central staff area, so that a smaller number of staff can supervise the inmates who are considered to have "good behavior" and are allowed to mingle with other inmates.

The point of the system is to KEEP STAFFING COSTS DOWN, so that people like you wouldn't have to complain about all the employees it takes to run a jail.

And did you read the article? The jail staff responded in 13 seconds. You can't get much quicker than that. I assume you just don't like law enforcement and need to complain about them at every opportunity, unless of course you need their help. "

to a Cell wrote on Jun 19, 2008 10:02 AM:

" So it was in a jail "cell pod?" I wonder how big that is- whether it's just a regular cell or larger. Thirteen prisoners in 1 cell without an officer there sounds like trouble period. No matter how big it was or how many cameras were watching, I really don't think so many should be together without an officer there. Is 13 to a pod common now? Seems like they're practically asking for trouble- or really trying to save money so they can pay their officers and administrators the highest county salaries! Go ahead- check the records. The Justice Department gets the highest raises every year! No wonder they can't afford new jails! Take a pay cut you jerks! "

Re Monster wrote on Jun 18, 2008 6:35 PM:

" You are correct, he is a monster with rage issues. He has a personality disorder that is all. It doesn't matter if it was alcohol or cocaine/crack. What about the guy who beat the older man to death outside of Dimensions in Sparta?? Why is HE not in jail??? Had this happened in or outside a bar, you would not have made your comment. "

Angela wrote on Jun 17, 2008 9:47 PM:

" Leonard almost killed Nathan. He seems to have some violent tendencies. Anyone who knocks a man unconcious and proceeds to kick the head and face, obviously has some serious temper issues. Not only that but he's a drug dealer as well,(per the Tomah Journal's previous article). This fight resulted in brain surgery and permanent damage. It was a horrible thing to face for any family. Even high society ends up in jail on unpaid parking tickets and DUI's. Leonard will pay his price for his bad decision, as we all do. "

MONSTER wrote on Jun 17, 2008 1:01 PM:

" This Figgins guy seems to be a real problem. A REAL PROBLEM. And some people say "oh, Tomah P.D. is just messng with the little guys" Some LITTLE guy, so innocent. Wait till one of these little guys decides he likes the contents of your purse. "


The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Tomah Journal.

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