HUNTINGTON -- The mother of a 27-year-old has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Huntington Police Department.

Caleb Matthew Dickerson died Dec. 25, 2008, at Cabell Huntington Hospital. The death followed a Dec. 21 suicide attempt at the Huntington Police Department headquarters.

Dickerson had secured a belt to a bar located within a couple feet of the floor to asphyxiate himself, according to the lawsuit and prior comments made in December by Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook.

The lawsuit was filed June 26 in U.S. District Court. It blames the officers for "deliberate indifference and gross negligence." The mother is represented by Hurricane, W.Va., attorney Carl E. Hostler.

"He was detained by improperly trained personnel, not evaluated in any form concerning his state of mind, permitted to be detained unobserved under a negligent policy and permitted to retain objects of self harm," the lawsuit reads.

Those objects of self harm were his belt and shoes, the lawsuit states. Holbrook, at the time, confirmed those items were not removed. He said the department has equipment to restrain combative or suicidal detainees, but Dickerson did not present those risks.

The Police Department's attorney had not filed an official response as of Tuesday. Holbrook declined comment when contacted.

In December, Holbrook said police found Dickerson in a residence located in the 900 block of Jefferson Avenue. They were responding to an in-progress break-in report. He was arrested without incident and transported to headquarters. He was being charged with burglary and obstruction.

A shift commander assigned to take photos of Dickerson discovered the suspect unconscious, Holbrook said in December. The chief said the suspect received immediate medical attention, and his breathing was restored at the hospital.

Policy did not require officers to remove a detainee's shoe laces or belts at the time. In December, Holbrook said that policy would be analyzed as police reviewed the incident.

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