People incarcerated in Broward County jails have reported to CHIP about a number of deaths in custody that raise serious concerns about the well-being of all incarcerated people. In most cases, we haven’t been able to learn much about the people whose names are shared with us over the phone. Folks who knew them inside will tell us what they know when someone gets sick, is taken away, and eventually never returns.
As became all too clear following the murder of Kevin Desir at North Broward Bureau, the jails are not safe and people inside are subject to violence and risk of death. Medical neglect is rampant, and seems to be potentially at issue in some of the reports we have received.
We are committed to organizing for a better world, one where people aren’t disappeared inside prisons and jails. As part of that effort, we remember those who have died. You are not forgotten.
Reported 11/15/22: Someone died in Paul Rein D8. We were trying to get him medical care for some time. Had serious hernias and eventually went to the hospital. Name was Josip Nicolik age 61 from Serbia. Died in hospital on 9/8/22 or 9/9/22. Probably in Broward Health and Medical. He had bypass surgery, almost bled to death in the hospital, came back to the jail for ten days, had lots of pain in his side and was vomiting his food and vomiting blood, and then got sent back to the hospital. He died the next day on the operating table.
Reported 1/10/23: Malcom Lacey died in custody. He had been a long-time resident in the jail system. Everyone incarcerated thought he had Parkinsons but it turns out he had a brain tumor. It happened a few weeks ago. A deputy confirmed he had died from a brain tumor. He had been there 39 months. He was a fixture at Paul Rein for a while but then got convicted of 2 crimes for 20 years and was transferred to the Main Jail to get transferred to prison. Never made it to prison. When he first got to Paul Rein he had a small shake in his right arm; when he left paul rain both of his arms were shaking visibly. Clear to anyone that his condition was getting worse.
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