American Entertainment News: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Placed on Suicide Watch Ahead of Trial, Mental Health Status Uncertain (Exclusive)
Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is under suicide watch while awaiting trial at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, after being denied bail twice following a federal indictment on sexual misconduct charges
At 54, Combs was apprehended in Manhattan on the evening of Monday, Sept. 16. The following day, his indictment was made public, revealing accusations of sex trafficking, racketeering, and illegal transportation for the purpose of prostitution
After pleading not guilty, Combs was sent to MDC on Tuesday, Sept. 17, and denied bail on two separate occasions. While it’s unclear whether Combs is actively suicidal, sources tell PEOPLE that the suicide watch is a precautionary measure, as his current mental health remains uncertain, and he is reportedly in a state of shock.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Corrections defines suicide watch as “special precautions taken for inmates considered at risk of suicide, involving frequent monitoring.”
PEOPLE reached out to the Bureau of Prisons and the Southern District of New York (SDNY) for further details.
During a recent court session, Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, requested his transfer to a facility in Essex County, New Jersey. The final decision rests with the Bureau of Prisons.
PEOPLE also sought comments from Combs’ legal team.
MDC, which accommodates about 1,600 detainees, many of whom are awaiting trial, has faced criticism for being unsafe and understaffed, with reports of multiple deaths and suicides. Combs’ attorneys highlighted these issues in their bail request, noting that “numerous courts in this District have acknowledged that the conditions at Metropolitan Detention Center are unfit for pre-trial detainees,” according to The Daily Beast.
“Earlier this summer, an inmate was killed,” they wrote. “In the past three years, at least four suicides have been reported at this facility.”
Combs faces allegations in the indictment that he coerced victims into participating in what prosecutors described as “freak offs,” elaborate sexual encounters that he allegedly orchestrated. Prosecutors claim that Combs leveraged his fame, along with substances such as cocaine, ketamine, and oxycodone, to pressure and intimidate women into these acts.
Some of these encounters were allegedly recorded without the victims’ consent. When federal agents raided his homes in Miami and Los Angeles in March, they confiscated three AR-15 rifles and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant.
Diddy is due back in court for a hearing scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 10 a.m.
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