SMITH COUNTY, Texas (TXAN 24) – Samuel Bamburg, an inmate at Smith County’s Low Risk facility, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging mistreatment and denial of basic personal items during his transfer to the Central Jail amid the COVID-19 lock down. The case was filed in federal court on November 18, 2024.
According to the lawsuit, on May 18, 2020, Bamburg refused to take a COVID-19 test after being informed by Lt. Justin Bell and other officers that all inmates would be tested.
Bamburg asserts that his unit, R-Tank, and the nearby Q-Tank had been under strict lock down for two months with no outside contact and no reported illnesses, leading him to question the need for testing. Despite his refusal, Bamburg alleges that Lt. Bell ordered his transfer to the Central Jail and quarantine.
When Bamburg asked why he was being quarantined despite not being ill, he claims Lt. Bell replied, “I’m gonna make sure you get sick.”
Following this exchange, Officer Doyle and another unidentified officer allegedly restrained Bamburg with handcuffs and body shackles before transporting him by van to the Central Jail. Upon arrival, Bamburg claims he was denied access to his personal hygiene items and Bible, even though he had been wearing the same uniform for nearly two weeks.
The situation reportedly escalated when Officer Doyle and another officer attempted to take Bamburg’s belongings. Bamburg alleges that the officers began wrestling with him while he was still shackled, slamming him into the side of the Sally Port cage during the struggle.
Bamburg’s allegations of abuse and mistreatment have prompted a federal investigation into the actions of the officers involved in the incident.
The Smith County Sheriff’s Department has yet to comment on the lawsuit. Meanwhile, prisoner rights advocates are calling for a thorough investigation into the use of force and the treatment of inmates during the pandemic, particularly regarding the handling of those quarantined under COVID-19 protocols.
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