By C1 Staff
ESCAMBIA, Fla. — Beginning September 30, a 21-person grand jury will be presented evidence into the months-long investigation into the Escambia County Jail explosion.
According to the Pensacola News Journal, the jury will decide whether criminal charges are appropriate in the explosion that killed 2 inmates and injured 180 others.
Witnesses from the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Office of the State Attorney, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will present findings from their investigation into the explosion and the surrounding circumstances.
Ancillary agencies such as the Escambia County government, Pensacola Energy (the jail’s gas provider), and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (which is charged with investigating the deaths of the two inmates) will have the opportunity to present any findings they believe are relevant.
At least 12 members of the jury must find that the involved parties acted with criminal intent in their actions or inactions for the State’s Attorney Office to issue an indictment against the county or its staff.
Escambia County released a written statement: “Escambia County Administration, County Attorney and staff will continue to fully cooperate with the State Attorney’s Office through this process.”
County officials are likely to present a report by attorney Edward Fleming, which said the explosion was likely caused when dryers in the jail basement floated up on flood waters and became detached from their gas lines. The report states that there is no culpable negligence on the county’s part.
Fleming also said that no one he interviewed for the report smelled gas in the hours prior to the explosion.
The findings are in direct conflict with testimony from inmates and jail staff who reported smelling gas for hours before the blast took place.
The grand jury will have the ultimate say on whether there is negligence at play or not, and there is no set time limit for them to reach a conclusion.