MONROE COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones issued a lengthy statement explaining the series of events that led up to 74-year-old Elijah Lester Isbill being arrested and what transpired following his arrest.
According to Jones, Isbill was arrested by the Madisonville Police Department on Feb. 6 after officers were dispatched to a call for service.
Jones said body worn cameras showed Madisonville officers use professionalism and try several times to have Isbill leave with his daughter, Windy Duncan, or Monroe County EMS for a medical evaluation at around 12:23 p.m.
During the encounter with MPD, Jones said Isbill could be heard slurring his speech and seen trying to get back in his car after being asked to get out by officers. Isbill reportedly became upset and made threats toward officers that they would need an ambulance if they tried to put him in it. He also brought up having a shotgun, and officers stopped him from getting it and put it in a patrol car.
Duncan was also on the scene with her husband recording the encounter, according to Jones, during which Isbill can be heard refusing to leave with her or medical services. Officers on the scene were then told Duncan had power of attorney over Isbill, and after a brief discussion with EMS, determined it did not work because he was lucid.
Jones said the officer was told that if Isbill was arrested, he would have to be taken in to be processed in and evaluated. Duncan then signed an Against Medical Advice form refusing medical care with Monroe County EMS for Isbill, resulting in him being placed under arrest and taken to the Monroe County Justice Center about an hour after officers responded.
Once at the justice center, Jones said Isbill was escorted to a cell, but he wasn’t cooperative with staff and began shouting and falling in the cell. He was then placed in a restraint chair with medical staff nearby to prevent further harm to both himself and to the corrections staff. A hood known as a spit mask was also placed on Isbill to prevent him from spitting on staff.
According to Jones, camera footage showed that when Isbill stopped moving, a corrections officer entered the room about two and a half minutes later, and officers and medical staff began removing straps and performing lifesaving measures, including CPR. He was taken to Blount Memorial Hospital, where he passed away a short time later.
While reviewing video footage of the incident, Jones said a corrections deputy made an inappropriate measure to the camera. He added that the deputy is no longer employed with the sheriff’s office.
Following this, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation began looking into the incident, according to Jones, and after an investigation, District Attorney General Stephen Hatchett decided to not move forward with any criminal charges against jail staff.
Hatchett released a statement on Wednesday saying the autopsy determined Isbill did not suffer any injuries that contributed to his death and instead died from natural causes.
However, Hatchett brought up other issued regarding Isbill’s treatment in the jail for a prior arrest. During an arrest in May 2024, Hatchett said Isbill had many similar symptoms when he was placed in the restraint chair.
The following is Hatchett’s full statement on the matter:
As District Attorney General, I am committed to transparency to the fullest possible extent when it comes to cases. I have had numerous questions about the death of Elijah Lester Isbill who had been incarcerated in the Monroe County Jail. I knew Mr. Isbill and I know his family and I am truly saddened by the circumstances of his passing. My office ordered an autopsy and requested the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to handle looking into this matter.
The autopsy is concluded and the forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy determined Mr. Isbill suffered no injuries in the Monroe County Jail that contributed to his death and determined the manner of death to be from natural causes. While I personally believe a reasonable person would have came to the conclusion that since Mr. Isbill was not charged with Public Intoxication whatever was going on with him was clearly health related and after he fell in the jail cell he should be transported to a hospital, the law recognizes reasonable people can disagree. This is why the burden of proof in a criminal case is beyond a reasonable doubt and requires a unanimous verdict.
However, there are other issues that have been raised regarding Mr. Isbill’s treatment in the jail, including an arrest in May of 2024 of Mr. Isbill for DUI by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office that was dismissed by the court in July of 2024 because there wasn’t probable cause to arrest Mr. Isbill. During that arrest, Mr. Isbill displayed many of the same symptoms he displayed when he was placed in the restraint chair in this case. I did not become aware of that prior arrest and the court ruling dismissing the case until yesterday as it occurred months prior to me taking office. I have asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to gather information on all of this and if I determine a crime has occurred I will proceed accordingly.
The people of Monroe County undoubtedly have questions and concerns about what happened to Mr. Isbill and rightly so. My office does not determine jail policy or jail procedure. Nor does my office determine who is and who is not fit to wear a badge. My office can only prosecute after the fact.
My deepest condolences go out to Mr. Isbill’s family. This is a terrible situation and there is nothing I do that will return their father to them. To the extent my office can dispense justice, it will do so without fear and without favor as it has done every day since I swore the oath of office.
Stephen M. Hatchett, District Attorney General – Tenth Judicial District
The full release from Jones can be found below. (Story courtesy of WVLT)
