PORTLAND, Ore. – Multnomah County may face legal action following the death of a 46-year-old man in its downtown jail earlier this year. Records show the family of Carlos Morris has filed a tort claim notice, signaling intent to sue over the circumstances that led to his death.
Death in Custody
Morris died on Jan. 8 inside the Multnomah County Detention Center, just six days after being booked. According to medical examiner records, he was experiencing opioid withdrawal and ultimately died from complications linked to severe diarrhea.
The night before his death, staff documented that Morris appeared “minimally responsive” and was found covered in urine and feces. Despite those observations, the next morning he was unresponsive and later pronounced dead.
Arrest Over Minor Theft
Morris had been arrested on Jan. 2 and accused of stealing less than $140 worth of nicotine gum. What began as a low-level theft charge ended in tragedy, raising questions about the treatment of people facing addiction inside county custody.
Family’s Legal Notice
On Feb. 7, attorney Matthew Kaplan, representing the Morris family, sent a letter to the county instructing officials to preserve all evidence related to Morris’s death. The letter makes clear that a lawsuit may follow.
“The claims against Multnomah County and its Sheriff’s Department may include failure to adequately supervise and monitor inmates and failure to provide adequate medical care to an inmate,” Kaplan wrote…