Holding Center death awaits autopsy

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - We are awaiting autopsy results on an inmate at the Erie County Holding Center who apparently took his own life over the weekend. It's the fifth suicide at the downtown jail in three years.

Adam Kleinhammer said, "They need to shut the Holding Center down."

That's Adam Kleinhammer's reaction after learning his housemate, Daniel Nye, apparently hanged himself in the Holding Center. He was found unresponsive in his cell late Saturday afternoon. Kleinhammer questions how he died.

"He was a very good friend of mine. We've been very closer for a few years. I don't believe the kid hung himself. He knew he had to go through a little bit of time. He always said, "If I go, write me. Come visit." I don't know what's going on," said Kleinhammer.

Nye, who Kleinhammer says is a father of two young boys and served in the Persian Gulf in the Air Force, had been stopped while in his car by Cheektowaga Police.

Capt. James Speyer of the Cheektowaga Police said, "He had a tail light out. They pulled him over just to check out his equipment. When they ran him for his driver's license status, it came back that he had a Buffalo warrant outstanding for 2009. That warrant was for forgery in the second."

If an autopsy proves Nye's death was a suicide, it would be the fifth Holding Center suicide by hanging since 2007, and the eighth since 2003. The Justice Department has a pending lawsuit alleging that Erie County jails have deficient suicide prevention measures.

Prisoners Are People Too founder Karima Amin said, "It's incredible, but I'm not surprised. When I first got the word yesterday, I was absolutely stunned that this has happened again. That's it's been allowed to happen again."

"They need to shut the Holding Center down. I mean, the Holding Center, none of the [stuff] barely works in there. I don't know, I don't know what needs to be done, man," said Kleinhammer.

The Sheriff and Erie County Executive were not available to comment. Erie County Attorney Cheryl Green has said Justice Department investigators are being barred from the Holding Center to protect taxpayers from what she called "a fishing expedition."