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Cheatham
was joined by tearful family members of Raymond Smoot,
who died Saturday. His death has been classified as
a homicide by the state medical examiner's office.
``We
come here today to let the public know that what happened
to our father was definitely an act of violence that
we are not going to let go by,'' said Kenya Kelly, Smoot's
daughter.
Authorities
said a guard had trouble getting Smoot back in his cell
and called for backup. A struggle broke out involving
25 to 30 guards, said Archer Blackwell, a spokesman
for the guards union.
Smoot,
52, had been in the facility since May 4 on theft charges.
Barry
Maddox, an FBI spokesman with the Baltimore field office,
said the agency was reviewing the matter.
A.
Dwight Pettit, an attorney for the family, said he planned
to file a wrongful death lawsuit. ``These acts are unconscionable,''
he said. ``They are tragic, and it's an obvious and
continual violation of the constitutional rights of
an individual.''
The
Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional
Services was also investigating. ``The family deserves
answers and they will get answers. And, if anyone is
found to be criminally culpable, they will be prosecuted
to the fullest extent of the law,'' agency spokesman
Mark Vernarelli said.
Six
correctional officers have been placed on paid administrative
leave. Vernarelli said detectives had interviewed more
than 100 people in the incident.
Since
2002, 27 inmates have died at central booking, according
to state Sen. Verna Jones, who called for a task force
to investigate the jail.
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