FERGUS FALLS, Minn. – Jailers withheld six meals in a row to an inmate who smeared his cell door with feces. The inmate said he became so hungry and thirsty that he ate his own feces and drank toilet water and then urine. These details are in an investigative report from the state prisons agency. The report said that withholding food as punishment is “strictly prohibited.” The agency ordered Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons, who is responsible for the Otter Tail County jail, to relocate inmates immediately to neighboring counties pending further inspections. In effect, the state Corrections Department has yanked the jail’s Class I license. Anyone under arrest cannot be held than 72 hours.

Otter Tail County jail. In Fergus Falls, population 16,000, in Otter Tail County, population 60,000, in northwest Minnesota. Built in 1987.  Rated for 111 inmates, many housed from counties whose jails are at capacity or lack state Class 1 status

Self-incriminating detail

The name of the inmate was not included in the state’s report, nor was the reason he was in jail. The food and drink deprivation began February 10, according to the jail’s own internal document: “We will not be offering food until he cleans his cell because it is not safe for staff to open any access points to his cell.” The documents say that the inmate was denied lunch and dinner one day, then breakfast, lunch and dinner the next day, and breakfast the day after.

Who knew what when?

Unclear is when Sheriff Fitzgibbons became aware of what was happening. Clear, however, is that 10 days after the food deprivation began, the state Corrections Department learned about potential staff misconduct. By then, on February 20, the sheriff had started an internal investigation and hired an outside law firm to investigate. There was an early report floating around the sheriff’s office, not confirmed, that the inmate was given bottled water in place of one meal and milk and juice in place of breakfasts.

Options for unpleasant situation

The state said that the jail staff dallied on seeking a medical provider or health authority about the inmate’s condition. The inmate, however, was given access to nursing care three days after the punishment started, the report said.

Fitzgibbons. First elected sheriff in 2016. Uniformed police service began 2003. Up for re-election in November.

Huska. Gregory Huska, the state inspector general for correctional facilities.