In a case that has sent shockwaves through Alabama’s legal community, the widow of a disabled 72-year-old veteran has initiated a civil rights lawsuit against three Macon County jail deputies following her husband’s brutal death while in custody.
The legal action, filed on April 10, 2025, centers around the October 2024 death of John Reed, a wheelchair-bound veteran requiring continuous oxygen for a severe lung condition.
Reed was reportedly beaten to death by his 24-year-old cellmate, Daniel Pollard, in what attorneys are describing as a preventable tragedy that raises profound questions about detention procedures in Alabama’s correctional facilities.
“This is one of the worst cases of prison neglect that I’ve seen,” said civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers, who is representing Reed’s widow, Regene Brantley-Reed, in the lawsuit.
Troubling Details Emerge
The lawsuit alleges that the three deputies named as defendants entered the holding cell where Reed was being assaulted but failed to separate him from his cellmate during the attack.
For Chuck James, Brantley-Reed’s Montgomery-based attorney, serious questions remain about why Reed, who had been arrested for alleged drunken driving, was placed in a cell with Pollard in the first place.
“These deputies had multiple opportunities to do the right thing and, if they had, John Reed would be alive today,” James stated.
According to court records, Pollard has been charged with murder in Reed’s death. His attorney, Jennifer Tompkins, has indicated that her client suffers from severe mental health issues.
“In 17 years of criminal law, this is probably one of the worst cases I’ve ever had in the sense of mental health,” Tompkins said.
A History of Violence
Records show that Pollard had previously pleaded guilty to attempted murder and burglary in 2022 and was sentenced to a 20-year split sentence, with five years to be served in jail or prison.
He was released on probation in May 2024, according to a spokesperson from the Alabama Department of Corrections.
The Macon County sheriff’s department has not responded to requests for comment about why Pollard, who was reportedly arrested for a misdemeanor, was being held in the county jail at the time of the incident.
A Broken System
Tompkins points to broader issues within Alabama’s criminal justice system.
“The mental health system in Alabama is so broken that we’re not getting the mental health treatment quick enough to prevent crime,” she said. “We’re creating a bad environment for not only other inmates but for the jailers too.”
A Family’s Grief
The tragic circumstances surrounding Reed’s death have left his family devastated. Brantley-Reed was waiting outside the jail with less than $300 to bail her husband out while the beating was taking place. She didn’t realize anything was wrong until she saw first responders arrive at the facility.
“It was just so unexpected and so crazy how it happened that sometimes I can’t even get a grip on it,” Brantley-Reed said.
The beating was reportedly so severe that Brantley-Reed had to provide photographs of her husband to the funeral director to help reconstruct his face for the funeral. Reed’s 95-year-old mother, who suffers from dementia, continues to ask for her son daily, only to be reminded of his death.
Legal Implications
This case highlights the potential liability that correctional facilities and their staff may face when failing to protect vulnerable inmates or respond appropriately to emergencies.
Under federal civil rights law, jail and prison officials have a duty to protect inmates from violence at the hands of other prisoners.
As the lawsuit proceeds, it will likely bring increased scrutiny to inmate classification procedures, supervision protocols, and mental health services in Alabama’s county jails.
For families with loved ones in the correctional system who may have suffered injuries or wrongful death due to negligence, cases like this underscore the importance of seeking experienced legal representation to investigate potential civil rights violations.
Moving Forward
The case remains ongoing, with no trial date yet set. Court records did not list attorneys representing the three deputies as of the filing date.
Fight Harder, Fight Smarter
Have you or a family member suffered injury or mistreatment in an Alabama detention facility? The devastating case of John Reed highlights why immediate legal intervention is crucial when civil rights violations occur in correctional settings.
At Baxley Maniscalco, our experienced Alabama personal injury and civil rights attorneys understand the complex legal landscape surrounding detention facility negligence and misconduct. We offer compassionate representation while aggressively pursuing justice for victims and their families.
Don’t navigate this difficult process alone. Contact our team today for a confidential consultation to discuss your legal options and determine the best path forward for your case.
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