Pinellas Sheriff Investigating Death Of Jail Inmate

CLEARWATER, FL -- Pinellas County Sheriff's Office detectives are conducting a death investigation nearly four weeks after a man was injured by a fellow inmate at the Pinellas County Jail, 14400 49th St. N., Clearwater.

According to detectives, at about 11:30 a.m. on June 18, 53-year-old James Mills of St. Petersburg and 41-year-old Charles Allen of Clearwater were both inmates housed in the same holding area at the Pinellas County Jail.

Witnesses said Mills and Allen got into an argument over the television remote and Allen reportedly struck Mills in the face once with his hand. Mills fell backward and struck his head on the concrete floor.

Mills was evaluated by medical staff at the jail and was transported to Northside Hospital by ambulance.

During the course of the investigation, detectives obtained jail surveillance video that showed Allen strike Mills and Mills fall to the ground and charged Allen with one count of aggravated battery on July 6.

Shortly after, Mills’ condition worsened and he was transferred to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg Hospital where he died on Tuesday, July 17.

The Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy to determine cause and manner of death.

Allen was originally arrested by the Clearwater Police Department on Dec. 22 and booked into the Pinellas County Jail for possession of powder cocaine, sale and delivery of powder cocaine, violation of probation for sale and delivery of cocaine, first-degree murder and first-degree murder of an unborn child.

Mills was originally arrested by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office on June 12 and booked into the Pinellas County Jail for failure to register as a sex offender, failure to obtain/update sex offender ID and two Hillsborough County warrants for failure to register as a sex offender and failure to report name or residence.

Additional criminal charges are possible pending the outcome of the investigation.

Images via Pinellas Sheriff

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