Questions Raised About Inmate's Death at Hernando County Detention Center

BROOKSVILLE – The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a man who was booked into the Hernando County Jail and died days later.

According to the Hernando County Jail website, 49-year-old Timothy Peters was booked on April 13th at 9:12 p.m. and charged with several counts of battery on an EMT/Officer, Resisting Arrest, and Trespassing.

Today, officials with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office released the following statement:

Sheriff Reports Inmate's Death

On 04-15-22 just before 2:30 p.m., deputies working in the Hernando County Detention Center observed that a male inmate, in the medical unit, was unresponsive. The detention deputies, along with medical staff provided CPR to the inmate until Hernando County Fire and Emergency Services (HCFES) arrived on scene.

The inmate/patient, who was in cardiac arrest, was transported to the hospital by HCFES.

Upon arrival at the hospital, physicians and nurses continued to provide advanced medical care to the inmate/patient.

Unfortunately, despite diligent and lengthy efforts to revive the inmate/patient, he was pronounced deceased by the Emergency Department physician.

The inmate's next of kin was notified of the death.

As always, anytime there is an in-custody death, an investigation into the surrounding circumstances will be conducted.

There is no additional information available at this time.

Officials would not answer questions regarding the incident or verify the date of the inmate's death.

Immediately after that statement was released, R News was contacted by the victim's brother, Jacob Peters who says, "He was 49 years old, and I believe there was foul play. We have a lawyer involved."

An employee at Bravera Health Brooksville (formerly Bayfront Brooksville), who wished to remain anonymous, tells R News that she witnessed the inmate being brought into the emergency room and that he appeared to be "beaten to death." The employee also says Peters' legs were in shackles, which she says is unusual with a patient that is in cardiac arrest. During his examination, the employee says Peters' trachea appeared to be crushed and he also have several other injuries that were not present in his mugshot. The employee says Peter's was resuscitated and moved to the ICU, where she believes he died the next day. The employee's information has not been confirmed by officials.

R News will continue to investigate this incident and bring more to you as it develops.