DAVENPORT, Iowa — A new report from the Iowa Office of Ombudsman found that staff at the Scott County Jail failed to respond appropriately to a woman experiencing a severe mental health crisis while in custody. The report alleges officers ignored hours of visible self-harm and did not provide medical attention or alert mental health professionals.
The woman, identified in the report only as “Sarah,” was arrested with her husband following a domestic dispute on Christmas Eve in 2024. Investigators said she was not given an opportunity to disclose her mental health history during the booking process, which was delayed for nearly 19 hours.
According to the ombudsman’s findings, jail surveillance footage shows Sarah repeatedly striking her head and body against the walls and floor of her cell while showing signs of disorientation and vomiting. Officers recorded in their logs that they checked on her every 15 minutes, but the report states the video evidence does not support those claims.
The report also cited body camera footage in which officers reportedly dismissed Sarah’s behavior as manipulation and suggested she was attempting to be taken to a hospital. During the night, she allegedly pulled out her hair, lost balance, and appeared to lose consciousness while staff largely failed to intervene.
When she was released the following morning, her right eye was swollen shut and her face and arms showed multiple injuries. Ombudsman Bernardo Granwehr said the incident highlights the need for stronger mental health safeguards in Iowa jails.
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