12/18/2025
Repeatedly defending your actions with phrases like, “his own actions” & “he was combative” is transparent code for “he was an easy target!” There isn’t a jail in this state or any other state with reputable healthcare! The jailers would have to care first about the inmate in order to facilitate good care for him/her. Because jail deaths are so infrequent, they know once the story blows over they are back to not administering medication, ignoring healthcare pleas, & abuse. Don’t let them get away with killing our neighbors. Idc if they are alleged criminals, the are our sisters, brothers, cousins, in-laws, fathers, mothers, spouses, and friends! They are human & STILL children of God! Remember the most hate-filled folks are free making decisions about us! But the Bible tells us to “remember those in prison as if we were in prison also.” Hebrews 13:3 Don’t pay for law enforcement to commit crimes; make them pay for it!
Union County Sheriff Charlie Phillips
A New York reporter working with Yale University is writing a story about two inmates who died at the Union County jail a few years ago and how their lawyers are demanding money from Union County taxpayers. I want you to hear the facts straight from me.
While every loss of life is a tragedy, these inmates’ dangerous lifestyle and health decisions are what caused their deaths.
Rodricus Lewis was brought to the jail after he was charged with arson and terroristic threatening for setting fire to a house with people in it. He was combative and fought with jail staff and refused to allow Union County medical personnel to treat him.
It became obvious that Mr. Lewis was suffering from mental health issues, the jail staff made extensive efforts to help him. We sent him to an inpatient mental health facility for extended mental health treatment. However, Mr. Lewis was combative and uncooperative at the treatment facility and was returned to jail after just a few days. We also worked with the court to get an evaluation for Mr. Lewis that would have allowed him to be transferred to a state mental institution. Unfortunately, Mr. Lewis refused to cooperate with the state hospital’s evaluation.
While at the Union County jail, Mr. Lewis was combative, uncooperative, and consistently refused treatment. After he tragically passed away, his cause of death was listed by the coroner as heart disease complicated by COVID-19 with contributing factors of schizophrenia, kidney disease, emphysema, and diabetes.
The other inmate who passed away was Eusebio Castillo Rodriguez. He was arrested by the state police for drunk driving and was sentenced to a short jail sentence. Although Mr. Rodriguez didn't speak much English, Union County medical staff saw and assessed him for a variety of issues including high blood pressure and diabetes.
Later, jail medical staff assessed that Mr. Rodriguez was suffering from alcohol withdrawal because of significant alcohol abuse in his life. Jail records show that medical staff prescribed medications and started treating Mr. Rodriguez for alcohol detox. Despite continuing treatment, Mr. Rodriguez's condition worsened, and we rushed him to the hospital. He remained hospitalized for nearly 10 days before he sadly passed away. After an autopsy, his cause of death was found to be multi-system organ failure due to alcoholic liver disease and diabetes mellitus. Sadly, his alcohol abuse had caused his liver and other organs to fail.
The jail staff worked hard to provide care and treatment to both of these men despite the challenges the staff faced. These deaths were tragic, but the deaths of the two inmates were caused by their own dangerous life and health decisions, not the Union County jail. This lawsuit is an attempt by plaintiff lawyers to force Union County taxpayers to pay for consequences that stemmed from the men's own decisions.
