The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement during a protest that was held at the jail on Saturday.
The protest was in response to three separate inmate deaths that happened in 2021.
Ian Longshore, 36 of Stone Mountain, and Corey Bryant, 22 of Decatur, both died on Sept. 6, 2021 in jail. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, an unidentified white powdery substance was found in Longshore and Bryant’s cell. Longshore was pronounced dead at the scene, and Bryant was transported to a local hospital where he later died.
The GBI was called to investigate the deaths.
“Providing for the safety, security, and proper medical care of our inmate resident population is a top priority, and we will continue to assist the GBI with their robust investigation into the deaths of Mr. Strayhorn, Mr. Bryant, and Mr. Longshore,” Chief Cleophas Atwater said in a statement. “The Gwinnett County Jail remains committed to building a healthy and trusting relationship between our deputies and the communities they serve. It has always been a core belief and principle of Sheriff Taylor that we must see the humanity of those we interact with and apply equal application of fairness, care, and consideration when carrying out our duties.”
Authorities cannot share additional details at this time and the investigation is active.
