FL LEOs in Lee County torture a man to death... and get away with it, looks like

[yellowtail3]

I hope this isn't true.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2085628/Nick-Christie-Mentally-ill-prisoner-strapped-Devils-Chair-pepper-sprayed-death.html

Strapped to the 'Devil's Chair' and 'pepper-sprayed to death': Horrific fate of mentally ill grandfather 'tortured by police until he died'

Nick Christie, 62, was detained by Florida police in March 2009
Had been suffering depression and had a 'mental breakdown'
No-one has ever been charged following the incident
Relatives now suing Lee Country Sheriff's Department for 'wrongful death'

A mentally ill grandfather died after police officers strapped him naked to a chair, smothered him with a 'spit hood' and pepper-sprayed him 10 times during a 43-hour ordeal, it has been claimed.

Nick Christie, 62, was allegedly tortured in the 'Devil's Chair' at Lee County jail after being detained by Florida police officers in March 2009 following a 'mental breakdown'.

The hood, designed to stop him from spitting at officers, meant he could not escape the noxious spray's fumes - and he was never allowed to clean the residue from his body. His family is now suing Lee County Sheriff's Department for 'wrongful death'.The incident has raised concern about the behaviour of U.S. police officers, especially as no-one has ever been charged in connection with the alleged crime.

Sounds like someone - several? - ought to be charged. Probably won't be.

[nw_hunter]

Your hearing about incidents like this happening more and more because of the Internet. It's alarming! Whats more alarming to me is, the lack of outrage by more people for these crimes.

It's almost like people are welcoming the coming of the Police State! I guess if it's not happening to me or one of mine, why should I care. After all! The police wouldn't do these things unless it was necessary..............Right?

We use to treat the mentally ill like patients. Now we don't do anything for them and wait until they become violent, and instead of the hospital and Dr. care they get jail and police care.

[guzzijohn]

Quote from nw_hunter:
"We use to treat the mentally ill like patients. Now we don't do anything for them and wait until they become violent, and instead of the hospital and Dr. care they get jail and police care."


You are so correct. You can thank republican "cost cutting" for the above.
GuzziJohn

[Graybeard]

In B'ham the cops beat an already unconcious man and I think killed him. They were tried and found NOT guilty. It was all on film and if I'd been on the jury I'd have hung the low lifes.

[Casull]

You are so correct. You can thank republican "cost cutting" for the above.
GuzziJohn

 
That is BS.  You can thank liberal judges for ruling that they couldn't be held.

[powderman]

The Lou KY city police have a terrible rep for abuse. One case a man was shot and killed in his home after being cuffed. Police said he attacked them with a box cutter, from behind his back. There are many more. POWDERMAN. 

[Old Syko]

The Lou KY city police have a terrible rep for abuse. One case a man was shot and killed in his home after being cuffed. Police said he attacked them with a box cutter, from behind his back. There are many more. POWDERMAN. 

This was one of my favorites.  The suspect was already cuffed and was in an 8x10 foot room with the 2 officers.  There were 11 rounds fired and the suspect was hit 3 times and died later at university hospital.

[powderman]

OLD SYKO. Don't remember all the details but that sounds about right. POWDERMAN. 

[OldSchoolRanger]

Your hearing about incidents like this happening more and more because of the Internet. It's alarming! Whats more alarming to me is, the lack of outrage by more people for these crimes.

It's almost like people are welcoming the coming of the Police State! I guess if it's not happening to me or one of mine, why should I care. After all! The police wouldn't do these things unless it was necessary..............Right?

We use to treat the mentally ill like patients. Now we don't do anything for them and wait until they become violent, and instead of the hospital and Dr. care they get jail and police care.

NW - The blame for this really lies with the liberal ACLU, I remember the days when a mentally ill person was put away in a mental hospital.  Then the liberals & ACLU sued, and forced the hospitals to release all those mental patients.  Without anyone to monitor or make them take their required
meds, the mentally ill now a days are left alone until they turn violent and attempt to hurt themselves, or an innocent passerby.  Then who gets called?  The local PD, who then gets blamed for any injuries to the "poor crazy man".  The liberals created this situation, now they blame the cops.  Makes sense to me!

[yellowtail3]

NW - The blame for this really lies with the liberal ACLU... ... Then who gets called?  The local PD, who then gets blamed for any injuries to the "poor crazy man".  The liberals created this situation, now they blame the cops.  Makes sense to me!

Are you sure you want to get on that horse? Before you commit, you should look at this article:
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/aug/03/feds-investigating-lee-county-jail-death/?print=1
What we have here is denial of medical treatment and wrongful death, and probably a civil rights violation. Might we suspect that Christie's pre-existing medical conditions as well as positional distress from the restraint chair & respiratory anxiety from the spit hood in addition to the pepper spray all contributed to his stress, then his heart attack death? ALL THAT AT THE HANDS OF LEO IN THE LEE COUNTY JAIL?
OldSchool, perhaps you will share on what you think might be the justification  for using OC on someone who is restrained. Be sure to consider use of that spit hood, which is usually only used for a few minutes at a time while prisoner is being transported or actually handled by jail or medical personnel.

I'll be glad to hear your comments after you read the article I've post above.

[guzzijohn]

QuoteYou are so correct. You can thank republican "cost cutting" for the above.
GuzziJohn


 Quote from Casull:
"That is BS.  You can thank liberal judges for ruling that they couldn't be held."


In some cases in some states the above may be true but not in Kansas. I was working in the mental health field when our at the time republican governor and republican controlled  legislator severely cut funding too and closed our state hospitals while promising funding for the mentally ill to be served in their local communities. Well only a fraction of the promised funding ever came through so many of these people ended up on the streets and in jail. That is still the case today. The police really do not make the best mental health workers.
GuzziJohn

[OldSchoolRanger]

NW - The blame for this really lies with the liberal ACLU... ... Then who gets called?  The local PD, who then gets blamed for any injuries to the "poor crazy man".  The liberals created this situation, now they blame the cops.  Makes sense to me!

Are you sure you want to get on that horse? Before you commit, you should look at this article:
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/aug/03/feds-investigating-lee-county-jail-death/?print=1
What we have here is denial of medical treatment and wrongful death, and probably a civil rights violation. Might we suspect that Christie's pre-existing medical conditions as well as positional distress from the restraint chair & respiratory anxiety from the spit hood in addition to the pepper spray all contributed to his stress, then his heart attack death? ALL THAT AT THE HANDS OF LEO IN THE LEE COUNTY JAIL?
OldSchool, perhaps you will share on what you think might be the justification  for using OC on someone who is restrained. Be sure to consider use of that spit hood, which is usually only used for a few minutes at a time while prisoner is being transported or actually handled by jail or medical personnel.

I'll be glad to hear your comments after you read the article I've post above.

YW - I'm not trying to get on any high horse.  I pointed out a fact of life.  I'm old enough to remember the days when mentally ill people were "locked away for their own good, by their own families".  I wish I could remember the case, but it was the beginning of all the homeless mentally ill people living on the streets of NYC. 
 I said: "The liberals created this situation, now they blame the cops."  I in no way or form condoned their use or the "justification for using OC on someone who is restrained".
 Hope this clears up my point of contention.

[tallyho]

Assistant State DA, in looking at prosecuting the cops concludes: We would have to prove that the conduct of the jail personnel was “gross and flagrant”, showed “reckless disregard for human life”, and was such that they “must have known, or reasonably should have known, was likely to cause death or great bodily injury". Based on Florida law, and the evidence developed, we do not have a basis to bring criminal charges against anyone in this matter. (emphasis mine)

Read the articles, see if you agree with the DA about whether there was/is evidence to bring criminal charges.

http://reason.com/blog/2012/01/17/the-prosecutor-who-cleared-nick-christie

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/11/jail-abuse-nick-christie-pepper-spray-florida_n_1192412.html?1326316978

[jlwilliams]

  Folks in Lee County ought to sleep well at night knowing these guys are on the job to serve and protect them.
 
  We are all so screwed.