Family Files Suit Against Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office

The family of a man, now in a vegetative state after attempting suicide in jail, is suing the Oklahoma County Sheriff's office.

Edward Levi Kuslak, 26, was arrested in 2008 after being involved in a car accident that took his girlfriend's life. Four days later, he tried to kill himself by tying a bed sheet to a vent inside his cell.

"The jail is so crowded they couldn't put Levi in an appropriate spot, so they could monitor him," says Attorney Linda Alexander, who is representing the Kuslak family in a federal lawsuit.

Alexander tells News 9 Levi was even placed with in the same cell with another suicidal inmate who tried to take his life before Levi's attempt.

"Rules were broke," said Aleaxnder.

The suit mentions a Department of Justice report on the Oklahoma County Jail released before Levi's arrest.

The DOJ report says the vents in the jail have "not be modified to minimize the risk that they may be used by a detainee to facilitate a suicide attempt."

Alexander says the family is seeking help with Levi's medical expenses, which are well into the six figures.

A spokesman for the OCSO tells News 9 it will not comment on a pending lawsuit.