9 Investigates: Use of force used twice on 75-year-old man who died of spinal injury in jail

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — 9 Investigates found out correctional officers used not one but two takedown techniques in two days’ time on a 75-year-old inmate found unresponsive in his cell at the Orange County Jail.

He died in a hospital the next day.

The state attorney released video of correctional officers using force in the second instance. It’s the one that turned deadly, according to the medical examiner and inmate William Howard’s family

Video shows Orange County correctional officers trying to persuade Howard to come to the door of Cell 4 so that they can move him over to a cell with a bathroom.

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“Please come to the door or force will be used,” an officer said.

Howard spent three days in jail after deputies arrested him outside his home, where he was accused of beating and stabbing his wife with a kitchen knife.

The family said he had a nervous breakdown and the video reveals jail staff noticed something off about Howard’s behavior.

The staff noted he stood incoherent for 12 minutes and wouldn’t move to the cell door.

Officers used a type of pepper spray on Howard and took him to the ground.

A thump can be heard as his head moves out of frame when he hits the ground.

Howard was then carried to another cell, where he stayed motionless on the ground.

Watch: Use of force used on inmate who died

“Alright, good job. Is anybody hurt?” an officer asked his fellow officers.

None of the officers were hurt, but the medical examiner determined Howard was injured and remained motionless after officers left the cell.

The takedown caused deadly spinal injuries. It was Howard’s first arrest.

Two more nurses received writeups because, according to their HR files, they did not “document that provider was notified of patient’s deteriorating condition.”

The registered nurse who was terminated, Rodney Martin, had disciplinary issues in the past when he was reprimanded for violating protocol.  He’d also been written up for a medication error and improperly treating a patient with hypertension.  He refused to sign one writeup.

LPN Nancy Mendoza had no prior disciplinary issues.  LPN Penelope Gray had one prior write up for not logging syringes during a shift.

Mendoza and Gray received written reprimands in the case, because management reviewing the case determined the LPNs’ “intent was to treat the patient and act in the best interest.”

The five correctional officers who participated in the second use of force incident will not face criminal charges. The State Attorney’s Office completed its review last month.

The jail is still conducting its internal investigation to determine if any of those officers will face reprimand.

Cox Media Group