ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

ST. LOUIS — The state auditor launched an investigation into the city jail Thursday, citing concerns about mismanagement, inadequate inmate nutrition and medical care, and interference with the civilian jail oversight board.

The state auditor has asked St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones for the jail’s food vendor invoices, facility and operational policies, and health insurance contracts by Oct. 24, plus correspondence with the city’s Detention Facilities Oversight Board.

The investigation was triggered by a request from state Sen. Steve Roberts, who said he received whistleblower complaints alleging inmate abuse. Tensions between the mayor and community leaders have grown recently, after three incarcerated people died within a six-week period. The jail has a current population of roughly 700 people.

“We have a serious problem in St. Louis if the mayor’s administration is obstructing the oversight efforts of the Detention Facilities Oversight Board she herself championed and supported,� said state Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick in a statement.

Jones’ office has said the city has complied with recommendations and made improvements following state audits over the past two years.

“It’s imperative that we address these deplorable jail conditions, which have caused preventative deaths, unsafe conditions and eroded the public’s trust,� said Roberts in a text message Thursday. “I am encouraged by the swift action taken by our state auditor and his dedicated team. With the mayor’s continued shortcomings, our city can’t afford to wait any longer.�

Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush asked the jail’s commissioner for the agency’s medical policies by Nov 3. City aldermen and jail board members have called for Commissioner Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah to be fired.

Fitzpatrick has also asked the civilian board’s president, the Rev. Darryl Gray, for policies, meeting minutes and correspondence from city officials regarding the jail board. Included in that would likely be a Sept. 8 letter from St. Louis police Chief Robert Tracy saying the board’s “activities� and inquiries about the August death of inmate Terrence Smith would “interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation.�

The oversight board was created to investigate complaints of misconduct and certain incidents occurring in the city’s detention facilities and investigate patterns of misconduct and systemic problems.

Jones’ administration initially cleared the way for the civilian jail board, including the scope of its jurisdiction and lawsuits from police unions. But members have complained that city leaders are obstructing their work. Fitzpatrick said the board should have full access to do its job.

The board’s vice chair, Janis Mensah, was dragged and arrested after they sat in the jail’s lobby requesting information about Smith’s death.

“I’m glad that more authorities are getting involved,� Mensah said Thursday.

At least one former jail employee has made complaints about the agency. The former fiscal operations support manager, Opeoluwa Oke, said that during his six weeks employed at the jail, he noticed irregularities with the handling of contracts, the quality of food and that inmates were being sprayed excessively with mace.

He said he sent anonymous reports to city offices, hoping to reach jail board members. He said he believes that triggered his firing weeks later.

“I’m not surprised at all. That’s why I wrote the board in the first place. I don’t know what they’re doing in there,� said Oke on Thursday.