Greene County jail employees return from paid leave after inmate's death in March

Eight Greene County jail employees placed on administrative leave following the March 11 death of an inmate have since returned to work, according to the sheriff's office.

Darrell Thorne died at a local hospital after being restrained by staff after allegedly bursting into a violent, narcotics-induced rage as he was being booked. Medical examiners said Thorne died of mechanical asphyxia during a forcible restraint, methamphetamine intoxication, arteriosclerosis, and hypertensive heart disease.

Ten Greene County jail staff members were initially placed on administrative leave. One returned to work within days of the incident and several weeks later, eight returned to work in different roles until a ruling is determined by the prosecutor's office.

"They have returned to work in a different role until the review from the prosecuting attorney is complete," said Derek James, the sheriff's office's public information officer.

One of the 10 employees initially placed on administrative leave is no longer employed with the jail, but Sheriff Jim Arnott said in an April press conference he couldn't speak further on the former employee's recent exit because it's a personnel matter.

Thorne was reportedly being physically combative with detention officers as he was being processed for alleged trespassing, resulting in the alleged injury of a jail employee.

Thorne, who Springfield police said kicked out a patrol car's window en route to the jail, was determined by an on-site nurse to have overdosed, according to the sheriff's office. Thorne was reportedly placed in a restraint chair before becoming unresponsive, prompting a nurse to administer Narcan and perform CPR before he was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.

Ryan Collingwood covers a wide range of topics for the News-Leader with an emphasis on public safety. He can be reached by phone at 417-258-8174 and email at rcollingwood@news-leader.com. You can also follow Ryan on social media at X.com/rwcollingwood.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Greene County jail employees back from leave after March inmate death