Sheriff Singleton Tells Quorum Court One Deputy Positive For Covid, 4 Exposed To Covid Patient

By Staff, 05/28/20 6:04 PM

Sheriff James Singleton told the Hempstead County Quorum Court Thursday that one of his deputies has tested postive for COVID-19 and four more have possibly been exposed.  The deputy that tested positive learned of that status thanks to a testing undertaken for the Sheriff’s Department and county employees.  The deputy is out recovering and hopefully can come back in a couple of weeks.  The Sheriff said four deputies responded to a fight at Saratoga on Thursday and were possibly exposed.  They will be given tests on Friday.  The Sheriff said they are working around the situation and JP Jessie Henry encouraged the Sheriff to do what he needed to do to ensure the public’s safety.  Sheriff Singleton said the jail remains locked down and the lobby of the Sheriff’s Department is locked as they had problems with some homeless people just “hanging out” there.  He said there is an intercom outside the entrance to allow those with business to communicate with the staff.