Former officer sues Charleston Co. jail over medical negligence while in custody

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - A man who spent time behind bars at the Charleston County jail has filed a lawsuit against the county and the sheriff’s office claiming negligence.

Former Moncks Corner Police officer Zedrick Smalls claims the medical care he received while in custody at the jail ruined his life, court documents state.

Smalls was arrested and charged on several offenses in May 2021.

Because of his past employment as a police officer, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office moved Smalls to protective custody in the Al Canon Detention Center in June 2021.

Smalls, who claims to have suffered significant medical issues while at the facility, is suing Wellpath LLC, a major provider of healthcare in jails nationwide, along with other defendants including officers and medical staff.

The lawsuit claims Smalls first alerted staff to worsening pain and swelling in his leg in August 2021, court documents state.

The suit alleges Smalls did not receive timely medical care, which he says resulted in multiple diagnoses of serious conditions including pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis in September 2021.

Smalls argues neglect by medical staff and detention center employees led to his deteriorating health that continued into 2022.

The defendants, including the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and Wellpath LLC, deny all allegations of wrongdoing and request that the case be dismissed. They have requested a deposition of Smalls as part of the ongoing legal process.

As of last year, Wellpath is no longer the medical provider for the Charleston County jail.

VitaCore Health Strategies took over in July of 2023, at which time, Wellpath was facing three medical malpractice lawsuits in Charleston County.

Smalls is currently being held at Turbeville Correctional Institution. The Charleston County Sheriff’s office declined to comment on the suit and Wellpath has not answered a request for comment.