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Charge dropped against man who jumped off cell block
LISBON
A charge of domestic violence has been dismissed against a man who was injured when he jumped from a second story Columbiana County jail-cell block Nov. 16.
Ronald E. Davie, 28, of Calcutta Smith Road, East Liverpool, suffered serious head injuries. The jail is run by a private company, CiviGenics Inc. of Milford, Mass.
Columbiana County Prosecutor Robert Herron said that Sheriff Ray Stone suggested that the charge should be dropped to save the county money.
Davie was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown. The county would have to pay a deputy to watch Davie in the hospital.
Herron said the county had initially made arrangements with security officials at the hospital to monitor Davie.
Herron said he did not know who would care for Davie.
Davie’s father, William Davie of St. Clair Township, said, “They just threw him to the wolves. ... I don’t know what is going to happen.”
Stone could not be reached to comment.
The elder Davie said his son is now out of the surgical intensive-care unit. His son can respond with pressure of his fingers, but it will take a long time for him to recover, he said.
Penny Traina, commissioners board president, said the county paid $172,000 for inmate care in 2009.