Sheriff's Deputy Deliberately Tips Quadriplegic Man Out Of His Wheelchair To Search Him
Featured ArticleMain Category: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Also Included In: Public Health; Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy; Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 17 Feb 2008 - 10:00 PDT
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| Article Opinions: | 4 posts |
A deputy sheriff, Charlette Marshall-Jones, has been charged with felony abuse after a surveillance camera filmed her tipping a quadriplegic* man from his wheelchair at a police station in Hillsborough County, Tampa, Florida, USA.
The quadriplegic man, Mr. Sterner, 44, who is able to drive, had been arrested for a driving offence. Sterner has not been able to walk since 1994 when he had an accident. He has no feeling below the sternum - his legs are completely paralyzed and his arms are partially paralyzed.
Marshall-Jones has been bailed for $3,500.
According to Mr. Sterner, he was asked to stand up by Dep. Marshall-Jones when he got to the booking office. He says she became annoyed when he told her he was paralyzed. The Deputy Sheriff walked behind Sterner's wheelchair and tipped it over. Sterner fell to the ground and because of his paralysis was unable to brace his fall. The video surveillance shows him landing heavily and rolling onto his back.
While splayed on the ground with flailing arms the Deputy goes about searching his pockets. Another officer comes and helps the Deputy roll him over so the back pockets can be searched. Then the two officers try to get him back onto his wheelchair - they call and another two deputies come over to help them.
The Sheriff of Hillsborough County has apologized to the victim.
* (Quadriplegic - A person who is paralyzed in both arms and both legs.)
Watch the Police Station Video (BBC - Starts after 20-second BBC film footage)
Written by - Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
MLA
15 Feb. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/97672.php>
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Visitor Opinions In Chronological Order (4)
Horrific!!!!!!!!
posted by ga smith on 17 Feb 2008 at 3:18 pmThis video and the actions of the sheriff's deputy in Florida is so typical of the police state attitudes of cops in this country. They think their shit don't stink and it is our fault for allowing so much of their crap to take place.
This has been going on in California for way too long. many, many years. Texas is just as bad, if not worse.
and for all those people that allow this to happen without demanding that heads roll, or getting after their congressman or woman and demand change, just wait until this happens to you! and it will. trust me.
Disgusting Treatment Of A Quadraplegic
posted by Paul Morris on 17 Feb 2008 at 4:52 pmI am wheelchair bound. I live in Sydney, Australia. I had booked a holiday for Florida starting next April. It was going to last 8 weeks. I have just cancelled it. What happened to that guy frightened me so much. I have switched to London, UK. There is something in the USA today that smacks of third world corruption and inhumanity that is really disconcerting.
Am I naive, or has it always been like that over there.
When I Was In The USA
posted by Francoise Millaud on 17 Feb 2008 at 4:56 pmTwo years ago I was in the USA. I am nearly completely blind and use a stick. I was picked up in Florida for "jay-walking" and taken to a police station. They treated me like an animal and laughed when I told them I did not know I was jay-walking, that I can hardly see. Eventually they let me go, after two days. I got on the next plane out of that country and will never return. Their police are incompetent, corrupt and sick - really sick.
Francoise, France.
Frightening
posted by Peter Ainsley on 17 Feb 2008 at 4:59 pmAfter seeing that footage and reading these opinions I will never set foot in that country, ever. I wonder how often it happens and there is no proof. This is the kind of thing I would expect to see in some footage of a Soviet prison camp. How America has slipped!! The other day I read that after Katrina some rescue people would only save those who were stuck on their rooftops if their women took their bras off and showed them their breasts.
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