Inmate seen on floor, not checked

A cavalcade of Milwaukee County corrections officers testified Friday about the final days of Terrill Thomas, including an officer who saw Thomas several times shortly before his death and never sought help.

The testimony of Officer Thomas Laine took center stage among the 14 officers questioned by prosecutors at an inquest into Thomas’ death last year. Surveillance video showed Laine walking by Thomas’ cell nine times in the hours before Thomas died of dehydration. Even though Thomas was naked, unresponsive and splayed out on the floor in his cell, Laine didn’t call medics or other corrections officers.

“I work on the mental health unit, and a lot of inmates are naked and sleep at all times,” Laine said.

The officers were all called to establish they were unaware Thomas’ water had been shut off shortly after he arrived at the Milwaukee County Jail. Thomas spent seven days in a solitary confinement cell without access to water. Prosecutors have said Thomas suffered from bipolar disorder and wasn’t taking any medication, which made him unable to ask for help. Thomas was in jail on charges that he shot a man and fired several rounds inside the Potawatomi casino.

Prosecutors called the inquest to elicit testimony from witnesses before they decide whether to criminally charge anybody in Thomas’ death. A jury is hearing the testimony and will issue an advisory verdict on whether there’s probable cause to file charges.

Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. has not commented publicly about the death or his agency’s administrative response to it. Investigators initially believed Thomas died of natural causes, but they kick-start-