Correctional officers found not at fault in inmate's 2014 death
MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. (WJBK) - No charges in the 2014 death of an inmate at the Macomb County Jail.
David Stojcevski was found unconscious in his cell suffering from drug withdrawal, while serving a sentence for careless driving.
Stojecvski's family is not giving up the fight still moving forward with a civil lawsuit - although Macomb County correctional officers were found not at fault for his 2014 death.
Macomb county officials say an extensive investigation by the FBI has found there is not enough evidence to criminally charge anyone.
"Anybody that may have had contact, worked the floor of the mental health unit were all asked to come in, cooperated and participated," said Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham.
Surveillance video shows Stojcevski going through medication withdrawals for days. Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel says there was no way correctional officers should have acted differently.
"I was pretty upset when this thing first took off and people were talking about it," said Hackel. "And the reason for it, I believe there was an interest in demonizing some of the officers at the sheriff's department."
The attorney for the family 32-year old David Stojcevski, says he's disappointed.
After 17 days and the loss of 50 pounds and being only 10 to 12 feet away from him and monitoring him 24 hours a day, they allowed him to die," said Robert Ihrie, the Stojcevski family's attorney.
Macomb County officials say a civil case is still pending against the county although it is no longer against the corrections officers. They would not comment further on that at this time.
Ihrie says it is still too soon to tell how the civil suit will go or who it will involve.
Hackel now hopes the conversation surrounding this video will take new shape. He says since the death, correctional officers have been sending more inmates to the hospital to avoid backlash. But now the care is costing tax payers more money, and oftentimes, hospitals don't have the means to care for inmates who are mentally ill and dealing with addiction.
"Where are we going to come up with the funding and who is going to be responsible to help these people so they don't come into contact with law enforcement," Hackel said. "Or if they do, is there an alternative to places like this for incarceration."
Hackel says all of the seven to 10 correctional officers questioned by the FBI cooperated fully with the investigation.