Man found hanging in jail cell
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By Susan Smallheer Staff Writer - Published: November 28, 2009
BRATTLEBORO – A local man was in critical condition Friday after he was found hanging by his shirt in his cell at the Brattleboro Police Department.
State Police said Erich McLellan, 33, who had been arrested Thanksgiving Day afternoon after he allegedly pulled a knife on several people, was found hanging by his T-shirt in his cell by the police.
Police began first aid and McLellan was first taken to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and then air-lifted to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Late Friday, a nursing supervisor would not confirm that McLellan was a patient at the hospital.
A press release from Vermont State Police said that McLellan was discovered during "one of the times" when officers were checking on him. The Brattleboro lockup is located in the basement of the municipal center, one floor below the police department.
State Police Detective Lt. Tim Oliver declined to comment beyond his press release Friday, referring all questions to the Windham County State's Attorney's office.
Deputy prosecutor Steven Brown said Friday that State Police investigators were called in from outside the Brattleboro area to insure the independence of any investigation.
He said investigators worked on the McLellan case Thursday night and Friday as well.
But Brown declined to comment on any specifics on the case, not even disclosing when McLellan was discovered. The press release stated that McLellan was arrested shortly after 1:30 p.m. for aggravated assault after a confrontation with several people. No one was hurt in the incident.
Brown confirmed that McLellan had a previous brush with the law and had a conviction for disorderly conduct, but the deputy state's attorney said the incident was several years ago, when McLellan was in his 20s.
Brown said that it was possible that the Vermont Attorney General's office may also investigate the incident, noting it was "not uncommon" for state authorities to review such incidents involving police departments.
The State Police release said that once the investigation was complete, it would be reviewed by the Windham County state's attorney's office "for review and recommendations."
Exactly what was the police department's policy regarding checking on people detained in the downstairs cells was not clear Friday, as several town officials couldn't be reached for comment on the holiday weekend.
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