RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) -- The family of a man found beaten to death in a Harnett County jail cell has filed a lawsuit.
William Earl Surles, 64, of Dunn, was found in his bunk around 8:20 a.m. on Dec. 19, 2022, according to the Harnett County Sheriff's Office. An autopsy report from the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Surles had blunt-force trauma to the head. Blood was found splattered around the jail cell. Devonte Jamal Headen, 26, was later indicted for first-degree murder in Surles' death.
The lawsuit filed by Surles' daughter, Lawanda Snead, called his death "tragic and predictable."
Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats, Major Gary Clifton McNeill at the Harnett County jail, correctional officer Eric Jason Morris, correctional officer Daniel Edward Pearson, Jr., correctional officer Cleon Hall, correctional officer Daeshawn Lewis Smith, and Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America are all named as defendants in the suit in the suit.
According to the lawsuit, Surles had recently returned from the hospital after having his toe amputated as a result of diabetes. The suit said he required close medical attention as he completed the last 10 days of a month-long period in jail for a misdemeanor probation violation.
Shortly after his return, the suit claims Headen was placed in Surles' one-bunk cell. Headen was serving a 19-month sentence for felony assault by strangulation. The lawsuit claims the named defendants knew Headen was "extremely dangerous to other inmates and jail personnel, mentally ill, unstable, and prone to extreme and unprovoked acts of violence."
The suit claims Headen had an unprovoked violent and psychotic episode when he beat Surles to death. According to the suit, other jail personnel were "shocked and did not understand" by Headen was placed with Surles. In an interview with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the suit claims Headen confirmed Surles in no way provoked him.
The lawsuit claims jail personnel checked on Surles between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2022, and didn't do a proper check-in again until about 8:30 a.m. the next morning when they found his body.
"Other B-Block inmates heard pounding and yelling coming from the cell, including Mr. Surles' cries for help, but jail personnel including Defendants chose not to properly round or respond," the suit claims. The suit claims those noises were heard around 3 a.m.
The suit filed by Surles' daughter claims the jail administration knew there was adequate security and violence was pervasive in the facility. It says Sheriff Coats and Major McNeill failed to provide adequate training and supervision to jail personnel regarding maintaining inmate safety. It says they specifically "failed to provide adequate training and supervision regarding the placement, movement, and supervision of inmates, especially those known to be mentally ill, unstable, or prone to extreme and unprovoked violence." These actions, the suit claims, resulted in Surles' death.
Surles' daughter is seeking $75,000 in compensatory damages, punitive damages, a jury trial for any disputed facts and any other relief the court deems appropriate.