Scott City Jail incident leaves female inmate, male inmate in same cell for period of time

A male inmate accidentally was placed in a Scott City Jail cell with a female inmate, jail co-administrator Sgt. Thomas Foster said Thursday.

The incident occurred during a period of time between Sunday night and Monday morning, he said.

"It did happen, unfortunately," he said.

The female inmate was being held in the Scott City Jail for the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department, Foster said.

A Scott City police officer subsequently made an arrest and placed the "male subject" in the same cell, not realizing the other inmate was a female, Foster said.

Foster said security cameras showed there was no interaction between the two inmates and the female inmate also told officers the same thing.

"I believe she was asleep for the entire duration," he said.

Foster said the Scott City officer has been disciplined. He said city personnel policies prohibit public disclosure as to what disciplinary action was taken.

Foster said the situation occurred in a cell that can house nine inmates. He said the Scott City Jail often holds inmates for the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department.

Branden Caid, acting Mississippi County sheriff, said he learned of the situation from a judge. Caid said he ordered the female inmate be transported back to the Mississippi County Detention Center.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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