“Kevin Gladden, Inmate Who Recently Died, Identified by Richland County Coroner”

An inmate at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia, Kevin Gladden, has recently died, according to the Richland County Coroner’s Office. Gladden, a 66-year-old Columbia resident, was taken to a hospital on July 12 due to an “altered mental status” and passed away shortly after. The cause of death has not been disclosed, and it is unknown if foul play is suspected or if there is an ongoing investigation.

Gladden had been in jail since June 14 on a larceny charge and had a $10,000 surety bond set, but he remained incarcerated. This incident is just one of several troubling occurrences at the troubled detention center. On July 14, two inmates were treated for stab wounds after being attacked by a larger group of inmates. The sheriff’s department has reported over a dozen assaults in the jail this year.

The Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center has been under scrutiny for severe understaffing, violence, and poor conditions for detainees. County officials have vowed to make significant improvements, including restructuring leadership, increasing staff pay, and investing in facility upgrades.

Gladden’s death marks the fifth fatality at the jail between February 2022 and July 2023. In February 2022, Lason Butler died from dehydration and rat bites. James Mitchell’s death in December 2022 remains shrouded in mystery. Demond Thompson died just two hours after arriving at the jail in January 2023, and Antonius Randolph was fatally stabbed in his cell by fellow inmates in January 2023.

This breaking news story will be updated as more information becomes available. The State is committed to providing timely and accurate information to the public..