Detainee found hanging in cell

23-year-old detainee Ti Dasi had only been back at the Department of Corrections for four months. Monday night he was found hanging in his cell in Mangilao. "The detainee still had a pulse when he left our facility, and he was immediately transported to the US Naval Hospital where he was unfortunately later pronounced dead," according to DepCor deputy director Carla Borja.

Dasi was originally sentenced to three years in 2014 for theft, after serving six months he was released on probation. As a result of an aggravated assault case he returned to DOC in February. "He was in Post 5," Borja continued. "He was housed in a single-cell post, he was pending a reclassification for his security level based on his parole violation and him having to come back to serve the two years of his imprisonment."

DepCor's Internal Affairs Division was activated Monday night. A part of their investigation includes whether there were any previous attempts or indicators that Dasi was suicidal. "We don't have any knowledge of any prior attempts of suicide for Mr. Dasi," added Borja.

The incident follows a visit this week by the bureau of prisons and the US Marshals Service, who are touring DepCor's facilities to evaluate the conditions and treatment of federal detainees and inmates under DepCor custody. DOC has been under a consent decree with the feds for 20 years for multiple violations. Even recently the agency has been under federal scrutiny for inadequate health, dental and mental health care.

KUAM News has confirmed that DepCor's limited term contract with a clinical psychologist recently expired. "So now we're working on an RFP and that's been ongoing for the past couple of weeks, so we're working on an RFP for a more long-term contract with a clinical psychologist," Borja said.

Borja says however that DepCor is working closely with the Guam Behavioral and Wellness Center to provide mental health care for inmates and detainees that may need it. The agency also recently created a behavioral health housing unit designated as Post 2. "So if anyone experiences any behavioral health issues they are moved to Post 2, where they are closely monitored," she explained.

According to Borja, Dasi did spend time at Post 2, but that was before it was transformed into the new Behavioral Unit. "We can't always predict when an inmate or detainee feels that they need to take drastic measures we are looking into that now to see if there was anything any indicators, anything we could have done," she said.

Medical examiner Dr. Aurelio Espinola will be conducting an autopsy on Dasi today.