Attorneys comment on lawsuit against Mecklenburg County sheriff

A family is suing Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden after their loved one died while in jail.
The lawsuit alleges that 25-year-old Russell Fincham died of fentanyl intoxication while in custody and the family is demanding justice.
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Fincham died two years ago after being arrested on various charges, none of which were related to drugs.
Ronard Dixon Jr. and Anthony Burts are representing the Fincham family in the case. Dixon said Fincham ingested .5 grams of fentanyl prior to being arrested.
“He did notify medical staff and the intake process, he ingested half a gram of fentanyl prior to arriving into custody," Dixon said. "He was then put on observation watch.
The lawsuit alleges that soon after arriving at the Mecklenburg County jail he began to have symptoms of opioid withdrawal. The suit added Fincham vomited over two gallons of black bile due to withdrawal. The next morning, it said, he exhibited signs of distress.
"The state regulation, they have to do pod tours, and they include physical observation of each person," Dixon said.
According to North Carolina Administrative Code Section 10A, a jail shall have an officer make supervision rounds and observe each inmate at least two times every 60 minutes. It can not be more than 40 minutes in between rounds. Burts alleged that policy was not followed.
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