Birmingham deputy chief of public safety addresses 2 city jail inmate deaths in 3 days
The death of a Birmingham City Jail inmate on June 11 stemmed from a self-harm incident, and the death of another inmate on June 14 followed a self-harm incident hours earlier.
Ethan Parker 
Birmingham city officials have provided new insight regarding two deaths that occurred within the Birmingham City Jail over a span of just three days. Birmingham Deputy Chief of Public Safety Carlton Peeples confirmed in a statement on Monday that both fatalities involved self-harm incidents.
Ongoing Investigations
Authorities are treating each case as an active, independent investigation. 205focus.com notes that the circumstances surrounding both deaths are currently being scrutinized to determine the exact sequence of events.
The June 11 Incident
On June 11, 32-year-old Patrick Lamar Croskey was found unresponsive in his single-cell by jail staff conducting welfare checks. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by personnel, Croskey was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been in custody for approximately 51 days following an April 21 booking on charges including third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, and criminal mischief.
The June 14 Incident
A second death occurred on Sunday, June 14, 2026, when a 35-year-old inmate was found unresponsive in his cell. Earlier that morning, at approximately 10 a.m., staff had discovered the inmate during an apparent self-harm attempt, which led to a transport to UAB Hospital by the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service.
The inmate was cleared by medical staff, returned to the facility, and placed on suicide watch. Following regular welfare checks, he was discovered unresponsive again at approximately 1:07 p.m. Emergency responders transported him back to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:57 p.m. He had been booked on June 13 on a disorderly conduct charge.
Official Response
Deputy Chief Peeples stated that a preliminary review indicates jail staff acted according to established protocols during these incidents. The Birmingham Police Department is continuing to investigate both cases alongside the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, which will issue final determinations regarding the cause and manner of death.
