By Jon Johnson
Published on Friday, October 28, 2011 3:34 PM MST
An inmate working on a construction detail at the
Graham County Jail fell from the roof of its second story addition
Thursday afternoon.
According to Graham County Undersheriff Jeff McCormies, the inmate, Martin Delgado, 24, was laying a chalk line on the roof of the addition when he fell over its north side wall at about 3:25 p.m. He is in the jail serving a 180-day sentence.
Delgado was transported to the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center by Southwest Ambulance. He was evaluated at the hospital and was then flown to the University Medical Center in Tucson, according to McCormies.
Construction of the addition has been ongoing since October 2010. It will hold 30 beds, mostly in dormitory-style cells, and expands the jail's kitchen and lobby areas. The main reason for the addition is to be able to house its female inmates who are currently housed in Greenlee County at an estimated yearly cost of $225,000 to $250,000.
McCormies said the jail's policy for making chalk lines on the roof near the edge requires the inmate to perform the work on their knees with a partner. Delgado was on the roof with two other inmates, but it appears he attempted to prepare the chalk line while standing and without a partner, according to witness statements. The cause of the fall has been listed as an accident with no foul play, according to the Sheriff Office's preliminary investigation.
Delgado landed on his posterior on the concrete sidewalk along the edge of the new addition. He never lost consciousness and was able to describe where he was injured to paramedics. McCormies said the last update he was privy to indicated that Delgado was X-rayed and was likely going to go in for surgery. A public information officer from UMC, however, could not locate Delgado and could not confirm he was at the hospital.
McCormies said the Sheriff's Office will be grateful when the construction project is complete and expressed well wishes for the injured inmate.
According to Graham County Undersheriff Jeff McCormies, the inmate, Martin Delgado, 24, was laying a chalk line on the roof of the addition when he fell over its north side wall at about 3:25 p.m. He is in the jail serving a 180-day sentence.
Delgado was transported to the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center by Southwest Ambulance. He was evaluated at the hospital and was then flown to the University Medical Center in Tucson, according to McCormies.
Construction of the addition has been ongoing since October 2010. It will hold 30 beds, mostly in dormitory-style cells, and expands the jail's kitchen and lobby areas. The main reason for the addition is to be able to house its female inmates who are currently housed in Greenlee County at an estimated yearly cost of $225,000 to $250,000.
McCormies said the jail's policy for making chalk lines on the roof near the edge requires the inmate to perform the work on their knees with a partner. Delgado was on the roof with two other inmates, but it appears he attempted to prepare the chalk line while standing and without a partner, according to witness statements. The cause of the fall has been listed as an accident with no foul play, according to the Sheriff Office's preliminary investigation.
Delgado landed on his posterior on the concrete sidewalk along the edge of the new addition. He never lost consciousness and was able to describe where he was injured to paramedics. McCormies said the last update he was privy to indicated that Delgado was X-rayed and was likely going to go in for surgery. A public information officer from UMC, however, could not locate Delgado and could not confirm he was at the hospital.
McCormies said the Sheriff's Office will be grateful when the construction project is complete and expressed well wishes for the injured inmate.
