pray@altoonamirror.com
A federal civil rights lawsuit filed against two area prisons has cited the lack of mental health care as the primary reason for the death of an inmate two years ago.
Michael L. Duffalo was three days past his 38th birthday when he died from suicide in the Clearfield County Prison on March 10, 2019.
The civil rights action stated Duffalo, who was arrested on March 4, 2019, during a domestic incident in Brockway, Jefferson County, was transferred the next day to the Clearfield County Prison because of an outstanding warrant issued by a Clearfield County Court judge.
The warrant, according to the lawsuit, came about because Duffalo had failed to appear for a hearing on misdemeanor theft charges.