JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man who was in the Duval County jail after he was arrested and accused of trespassing at a local hospital died Monday, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
David Given, a 68-year-old transient, was arrested on Sept. 5 after he showed up at UF Health complaining of hip pain, refused to allow any medical work to be done and then refused to leave after he was asked multiple times.
Given was last seen alone and moving in his cell shortly after 10 a.m., JSO said. During rounds for medication, just before noon, Given was found partially lying under his bunk unresponsive, JSO said. Corrections officers, along with medical staff began lifesaving actions until the arrival of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. Once on scene, JFRD pronounced Given deceased.
Given is the third inmate to die at the jail since Aug. 7 but is the first to die since the jail switched over to its new health services provider: Naphcare.
The city ended a previous contract with a different health services provider in July that was in the midst of controversy.
Naphcare had its own allegations as well, including lawsuits alleging that the company lied about the level of care it provided to upcharge taxpayers. It’s also the same company that has faced scrutiny from the Justice Department after an inmate at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta was reportedly eaten alive by bedbugs.
News4JAX is reaching out to Naphcare for a response about Given’s death.
According to a JSO spokesperson, “JSO Administration vetted NaphCare carefully, and the vendor comes highly recommended by other Florida counties that utilize it within their jails.”
They later added that “JSO rejects the characterization of NaphCare’s care history as poor. Every medical provider system, based outside or inside jails, has a history of lawsuits.”
JSO’s Cold Case Unit, along with the Crime Scene Unit processed the scene where Given died and will continue to investigate the incident.
The Medical Examiner’s Office will complete a separate investigation which will include an autopsy to determine Given’s cause of death. JSO said at this time there appears to be no suspicion of foul play involved.
Given was set to be arraigned on Wednesday and his bond was set at $2,500.
