The inmate who died last week in the Iberia Parish Correctional Center has tested positive for HIV, Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal said Wednesday.

Michael Jones’ test results caused immediate concern within the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office because Jones reportedly bit at least one jail official and drew blood shortly before he stopped breathing Friday.

One official was taken to Iberia Medical Center Wednesday night where he was given “a barrage” of shots that medical officials hope will prove preventative, Ackal said, adding one particular serum was sent from Baton Rouge.

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It was not immediately clear whether Jones had AIDS. The cause and manner of his death remain undetermined.

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is an infection transferred through bodily fluids. AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is a life-threatening condition that weakens the immune system.

Ackal said the 43-year-old inmate from Abbeville also tested positive for hepatitis B and C.

At least two additional Sheriff’s Office employees will be urged to undergo HIV testing, Ackal said, as they assisted in subduing a naked, bleeding Jones after he reportedly attacked and bit a jail official.

Since Jones’ death Friday, the Sheriff’s Office has identified warden Frank Ellis several times as a bite victim of Jones. No names were released to The Daily Iberian in connection with Jones’ test results.

Jones also bit an Abbeville Police Department officer during an arrest at his home in the wee hours of the morning Friday, Abbeville Police Chief Rick Coleman said last week.

As Iberia Parish Coroner James Falterman awaits the results of an autopsy he conducted earlier this week, the Jones family has protested Jones’ death and accused police of “killing” him.

The family contacted the Rev. Raymond Brown last weekend and told him Tasers and excessive force were used in Jones’ arrest Friday. Brown, a New Orleans civil rights activist, traveled to Abbeville Monday to hold a rally and press conference in which he criticized local law enforcement and alleged racism played a role in Jones’ death.

Jones died Friday afternoon in a holding cell in the Iberia Parish Correctional Center several hours after he was arrested by Abbeville police for disturbing the peace and battery on a police officer.

Police records show Jones’ mother, Wilda, called the police just before 4 a.m. complaining of a disturbance. Coleman said Jones appeared to be intoxicated and was uncooperative with officers. The officers subdued Jones, but Coleman has refused to say whether Tasers were used.

Shortly after the arrest, Jones had a medical exam at Abbeville General Hospital and was taken to the Iberia Parish Correctional Center. Jail officials later became concerned with Jones because he was reportedly ranting, bleeding and disrobing. Ellis was reportedly bitten while attending to him.

A medical exam was conducted on Jones, but he stopped breathing a short time later, authorities said.

A history of arrests

Jones was in and out of jail much of his adult life, and court records show he had a criminal record dating back to 1989.

In 1993, Jones was sentenced to five years in prison for selling what he said was rock cocaine for $20 to Deputy Chris Turner of the Erath Police Department.

The substance Jones sold was not cocaine, but Jones was later found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia containing residue of the real thing.

He was arrested again in 2001 and charged with illegal carrying of a weapon — a large knife — by a convicted felon. The charge was reduced but he was sentenced to another two years in prison after pleading guilty.

In August 2004, Jones was charged with beating a man with a glass and pipe. Two years later, he was charged with obscenity for exposing his genitals and making lewd statements to a 14-year-old girl and a 2-year-old girl.

Last year, he was charged with obscenity again after he reportedly exposed himself at the Sonic drive-in restaurant near his home.

He had several run-ins at Sonic, court records show, and was recently arrested there for unauthorized entry of a place or business, a charge his family said kept him in jail until about two weeks before his death.

Jones always signed his name “Mike” with a large, loopy dot about the size of a nickel over the “i,” court documents show. He gave his occupation in court as “shrimper” and had an eighth-grade education, though his mother said he could not read or write. On his left biceps, Jones had the word “mom” tattooed, a mark that was later used to confirm the identity of his body.

Hundreds of court documents suggest Jones was struggling with substance abuse and, as one of his lawyers would argue, memory and reasoning.

In Jones’ most recent offenses, he was defended by Louis Garrot, the public defender who said he would represent Jones’ family in the event the autopsy indicates foul play.

According to court documents, Garrot grew so concerned with Jones’ mental state last year he arranged for his client to undergo a sanity examination.

In court documents, Garrot said Jones had difficulty understanding him and little to no memory of the criminal acts of which he was accused.

Jones’ mother attributed those difficulties to alcohol and drug addiction.