Norris Robichaux
November 19, 2007Leon Sylvester
November 21, 2007
A Lafourche Parish Detention Center inmate died last Monday morning as he was being transported to the hospital, according to Sheriff Craig Webre.
Joey Savoie, 47, of 119 West 33rd St., Cut Off, was being transported to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center around 4 a.m. complaining of chest pains and sweating heavily, according to the sheriff’s office. He died en route to the hospital, said Larry Weidel, department spokesman.
Savoie was jailed Oct. 7 for his fifth DWI charge and for possession of marijuana. Weidel said Savoie was being held in Lafourche Parish until a transfer to a state correctional facility could be arranged. He was being held in a minimum-security section of the jail because he had a foot amputated following a motorcycle wreck several years earlier, Weidel said.
The Cut Off man received medical treatment at the jail and area hospitals three times before last Sunday’s trip to Thibodaux Regional, Weidel said.
Savoie returned to the jail at 7:45 a.m. with instructions that he be taken to an outpatient mental health facility.
Because of the Veterans’ Day holiday, the local mental health center was closed, Weidel said.
In the interim, he was held in a place where he could be observed, Weidel said. At 6:15 a.m. on Nov. 12, EMT Tierany Gros said Savoie was sweating profusely and appeared to be very agitated. Savoie became restless and refused oxygen or help from medical staff who sat him in a chair to take his blood pressure.
Two jail EMTs began CPR and chest compressions when Savoie lost consciousness, Weidel said. An ambulance was dispatched at 9 a.m.
Savoie had a faint pulse when Acadian Ambulance arrived, but died on the way to the hospital.
Savoie’s criminal record dated back to 1978, when he was first arrested on DWI and drug charges, Weidel said.
