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Michigan inmate dies while in custody, parents blame judge's decision to not let him go to rehab

Posted at 5:55 PM, Dec 18, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-19 15:22:58-05

Two Michigan parents are blaming the court system and a county sheriff after their son died while in custody earlier this month.

“That son of a b---- took my son from me,” John Greene said.

Dwayne Greene, 33, was arrested in Crawford County, Michigan last summer for operating a 4-wheel ATV under the influence.  He was driven to court on Dec. 4 and showed up drunk. 

On Dec. 6, Greene was found unresponsive inside the Crawford County Jail. He was reportedly brain dead when he arrived at the hospital. Two days later, he was pronounced dead.

“I was hoping when I walked into the hospital, he’d wake up,” Cheryl Greene said.

“We got there and they told us pretty much gone,” John Greene said. 

John and Cheryl Greene say their son had alcohol detox scheduled for Dec. 5. However, Crawford County Judge Colin Hunter did not allow Dwyane Green to attend and revoked his bond, sending him to jail.   

“He had it scheduled.  All the judge had to do was let him go into rehab,” Cheryl Greene said. 

Greene's parents say he battled drug and alcohol abuse, but this did not have to happen. They blame the system and the judge. 

“It was just straight up alcohol withdrawal. His blood work came back 100% clean," John Greene said.

“He was taken away for no reason,” Cheryl said.

Attorney James Harrington of Fieger Law is gathering records and videos in the case from the Crawford County Jail and Court. 

“Just because a judge says he’s going to do his detoxing inside a jail doesn’t mean they can sit there and watch a man die.”

The Crawford County Sheriff's Office and Judge Colin Hunter did not respond to a request for comment.

The family is still working on funeral arrangements for Dwayne Greene.  They have set up a GoFundMe page to help with costs.