MINNEAPOLIS — Hennepin County, Minnesota’s largest county, has agreed to a settlement of $3.4 million in a lawsuit that accused jail staff of neglecting the urgent cries for medical assistance from Lucas Bellamy, a 41-year-old man who passed away due to a perforated bowel after pleading for several days to be hospitalized.
The lawsuit was initiated in January by the family of Bellamy, whose father, Louis Bellamy, is known for founding the St. Paul Penumbra Theatre. Lucas Bellamy died while in custody at the Hennepin County Jail in Minneapolis in 2022.
This settlement is reported to be one of the largest in Minnesota linked to a jail-related death, according to local news reports.
Although the Bellamy family chose not to comment on the settlement, their attorney, Jeff Storms, emphasized that this resolution highlights the necessity of accountability regarding the tragic loss of Lucas Bellamy’s life.
Carolyn Marinan, a spokesperson for Hennepin County, referred to the incident as a “tragedy.” She expressed condolences to Bellamy’s family and others impacted by his passing, noting that, while the lawsuit has concluded, the county is dedicated to providing care with dignity and respect to individuals in their custody.
Lucas Bellamy was apprehended in July 2022 on accusations of fleeing from police in a potentially stolen vehicle and possessing brass knuckles. According to the suit, during the intake process at the jail, Bellamy disclosed that he had consumed a bag of drugs. He was then taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center but was returned to jail with guidance to seek further medical help if his condition deteriorated.
The lawsuit claims that Bellamy was one of 15 individuals who died in the jail since 2015, with eight deaths occurring in the last two years alone.
The announcement of the settlement follows a recent directive from the state requiring the county to reduce its jail population by 239 inmates due to issues related to staffing shortages and substandard medical care.