An investigation has gotten underway after a Nashville man died while in custody in a Missouri jail, and the sheriff in that county has been stripped of his title.
The incident happened Friday evening at the Mississippi County Detention Center in Charleston, Missouri.
Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley said there were two known incidents at the jail involving 28-year-old Tory Sanders on Friday evening. Those followed his arrest Friday morning, but Hawley said the reason for Sanders’ arrest was unknown.
The first incident involving Sanders at the jail happened around 5 p.m. In that situation, authorities said jail personnel tried to calm Sanders. According to Sanders aunt, they received a phone call from officials stating Sanders was having a mental episode or possible breakdown. His mother spoke to him in an attempt to calm him down.
Attorney General Hawley said the second incident happened around 7 p.m. and involved Mississippi County Sheriff Cory Hutcheson. Reports stated Hutcheson was at the jail giving orders despite having his license suspended about a month earlier. He had just been appointed as sheriff in January.
Officials said Hutcheson had a series of 18 counts of criminal charges brought against him by Attorney General Hawley’s office on April 5. Those charges included robbery, assault, forgery, and illegal surveillance.
Friday evening around 7 p.m., Hutcheson led multiple deputies into Sanders’ cell, which was when an extended altercation took place.
Sanders’ family said they learned through phone calls before his death that he had been tased at least twice. Sanders’ aunt said his mother asked officials not to tase him anymore.
Hawley said that altercation led to a paramedic being called in, and Sanders was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Hutcheson’s license as a peace officer had been suspended by the Department of Public Safety due to the charges pending against him, and Hawley said he had asked the court to refuse bond and keep the sheriff locked up because it was believed he was a danger to the community.
Hawley said he also requested the court prohibit Hutcheston from being involved in any law enforcement activity; however, according to Hawley, the court refused.
The attorney general said the sheriff was present Friday night and allegedly directed the altercation which led to Sanders’ death.
Tuesday, Hawley’s office asked the court to immediately strip Hutcheson's title as sheriff. The request was granted by the court, and Hutcheson surrendered his service weapon. He was also barred from returning to the jail.
"This is extraordinary action that we have taken. Also, taking control of the investigation is an extraordinary move by this office, very rarely done, but with the circumstances, we feel that it was more than warranted in this particular situation,” Hawley said.
The investigation into Hutcheson has been ongoing by the attorney general’s office and the Missouri Highway Patrol as the former sheriff has continued to face multiple charges.
“I am deeply sorry for your loss, and I pledge to you that my office will bring the full force to bear to see that justice is done in this case,” Hawley said to Sanders’ family.
Both the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have been alerted about Sanders' death. If it’s discovered that civil rights were violated, the two agencies would be responsible to start an investigation.
Family members said Sanders left behind eight children, with the oldest being six years old. Officials with the NAACP in Nashville held a press conference Wednesday afternoon with Sanders' family to discuss what took place in Missouri. View the video of that press conference below.
