Frustration grows over inmate's death as activists call for video of incident to be released

WETHERSFIELD, CT (WFSB) – Frustration grows over the death of an inmate six years ago.

Activists say J’Allen Jones was unjustly killed at Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown.

Protesters from the organization Stop Solitary CT gathered at the Department of Corrections headquarters to release video of the incident to the public.

They want to see more transparency from the state in the wake of Jones’ death.

“We lost a loved one. He was important,” said Stop Solitary CT Executive Director Barbara Fair.

“People need to see this video, see this transparency so they can see what is happening and be able to demand more. Our taxes go toward this,” said Chamar Logan, a Hartford resident.

Jones was 32 years old when he died in 2018.

According to court documents, he was repeatedly beaten by corrections officers, sprayed in the face with pepper spray while naked, handcuffed, shackled at the ankles and tied up after having a schizophrenic episode.

An attorney representing Jones’ family claims, “the defendants caused J’Allen to stop breathing, become unconscious, and then delay calling 911 or starting CPR by seven minutes.”

The lawyer filed a request for the video of the incident to be released.

“They could now do the right thing. Release this video. Let the people who want to see see it, show what they did. And then do the work to undo the culture that exists inside prisons now,” Fair continued.

The medical examiner ruled Jones’ death a homicide.

Specifically, it was classified as sudden death during a restraint struggle and chest compressions, exposure to pepper spray in someone with heart disease.

“We have under our surveillance this casual murder of people, detainees, people in custody. Casual murder and then cover-up,” said Rep. Ann Hughes (D) of the 135th District.

A state attorney investigation released in 2019 determined that the circumstances of the death were not criminal in nature and the criminal investigation was closed.

Eyewitness News reached out to the DOC and was told, “It is the Department of Correction’s long-standing practice not to comment on matters of active litigation.”

Channel 3 also reached out to the attorney general’s office for comment.

We were also informed that the firm does not comment on pending litigation.

Friday is the state’s deadline to file a response to the attorney’s motion for the video to be released.