Published: June 26, 2009 10:46 am      

Ada police: Witnesses say inmate fell

By Justin Lofton

Staff Writer



Ada Police Department have released results of an ongoing investigation into the serious injury of inmate Kevin Manuel while in custody at city jail. Manuel’s family said he recently underwent an operation to remove part of his brain due to the injury he sustained and is recovering at Norman Regional Hospital. He was arrested on May 30 on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and resisting arrest.

“In an effort do discourage the development of misinformation regarding the accidental injury of Kevin Manuel, the Ada Police Department has revealed some initial findings from its investigation of the man’s head injury that occurred in the city jail,” a press release from the Ada Police Department said.

“Under the circumstances, we certainly feel sympathy for Kevin and his family,” Major Carl Allen said. “However, claims that Kevin’s fall was anything more than an accident are factually unfounded.”

Ada Police Department has received statements regarding the incident from eye-witneses, the release said.

“To date, three inmates and one member of the Ada City Jail staff saw Kevin Manuel fall from the top bunk in his cell without any outside influence,” Allen said. “None of the inmates interviewed had anything to gain from participating in the investigation. They simply told detectives what they saw. Kevin’s accidental fall occurred in plain view of several different people and we have clearly documented that.”

The ongoing investigation is pending information from doctors and paramedics, the release said.

“We’re trying to see if we can’t find some way to speak to the doctors that the family keeps referring to,” Allen said. “We’re not having any luck there.”

Ada police said Manuel’s blood alcohol content was recorded at 0.27 at the time of his arrest.

“More than three times the legal limit,” the release said.

Manuel’s family could not be reached for comment by press time.