Jacksonville police: Man brought to hospital for evaluation under the Baker Act dies

A Jacksonville father of four died at a hospital after the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office brought him in for an evaluation under the Baker.

Jalen Mays, 26, died Thursday at Orange Park Medical Center, two days after he was detained by police.

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The JSO Cold Case Unit is investigating this case and the two officers who detained Mays were placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.

According to JSO, they went to the 1500 block of Lane Avenue South Tuesday around 10:15 p.m. after receiving reports that Mays was damaging property and causing a disturbance inside a business.

Witnesses told Action News Jax Mays was acting erratically and foaming at the mouth before police arrived.

JSO said Mays was refusing to cooperate and pulled away from the officer and stated “kill me.”

Police said the officers got into a struggle with Mays while trying to handcuff him.

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Due to to his behavior, officers requested Jacksonville Fire and Rescue paramedics to medically evaluate him.

Police said Mays began to have trouble breathing while rescue personnel loaded him into the rescue unit.

He was taken to the hospital where doctors stabilized him.

Mays died two days later at the hospital.

Bri’Shod Mays said they were told his brother died of substance abuse, but family members believe something else happened.

“Certain things don’t look right,” Bri'shod Mays said. “It showed methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana in his system, but I never saw any of those substances make someone’s appearance do that.”

Family members said Jalen Mays’ organs were failing and he had internal bleeding. They said he was bruised on his body and his face was swollen.

“We look very identical. I walked in the hospital room I did not recognize who I was looking at,” Bri'shodMays said.

Action News Jax requested Jalen Mays’ autopsy report from the medical examiner’s office.

The officers involved are Officer S.R. Maddox, who has been with the department since 2016, and Officer M.J. Reddish, who has been on the force since 2013.

JSO said the investigation is in its early stages. Right now, police are working to interview witness inside the store and reviewing surveillance video along with body camera footage.

Cox Media Group