(Columbiana, AL) On June 6, 2023, Joshua Dewayne Files of Bessemer was booked into the Shelby County Jail on an outstanding warrant for a Probation Violation related to a previous Theft of Property 1st charge. As all inmates at the Shelby County Jail, Files received his medical and mental health assessment during the booking process and based on his assessment, he was housed in a general population housing unit. On June 12th, 2023, Files displayed erratic behavior and was moved without incident to a special housing cell where jail watch protocols were initiated.
On June 15, 2023, at approximately 10:50 am, during a safety check by jail deputies, Files was found to be suffering a medical emergency. Shelby County jail deputies and the jail medical staff immediately began emergency life-saving efforts. Southeast Shelby Rescue responded to assist, and Files was transported to the hospital where he remained under the care of the hospital staff until he was pronounced deceased at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 17th, 2023.
Sheriff John Samaniego has requested the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office to conduct a review of this incident. As a standard part of the review process, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences will conduct an autopsy in an effort to determine the cause of death.
Sheriff John Samaniego stated, “We express our sincere condolences to Mr. Files’ family during this difficult time.”
Additional information will be released when it is available.