26 replies to this topic

[Distelrath]

Dumped from chair


I personally called the jail to express my concern. I suggest you do the same.

Hillsborough Co. Sheriff's Office
813-247-8000

[Kwag_Myers]

It's scary to think they would give a gun and badge to someone that stupid.

[Kev-O]

I agree it is hard to watch but dont feel bad for the guy cuz since that video is all over the web Tampa is going to let him go an Im sure he is going to sue them for all he can get, an win. If anything the guy getting dumped out of the chair is better off now.

[brooksbdb]

I just seen it on the news and i have to say it pissed me right off. that deputy should be charged as well as his suspension

[Motor]

brooksbdb, on Feb 12 2008, 05:16 PM, said:

I just seen it on the news and i have to say it pissed me right off. that deputy should be charged as well as his suspension

JUST SAW IT ON THE LOCAL NEWS HERE IN FLORIDA. AS A RETIRED COP I SAY FIRE, ARREST AND SUE HER. WHERE WERE HER SUPERVISORS. AS FOR THOSE WHO WATCHED AND LAUGHED HANG THEM OUT TO DRY AS WELL. IF I AS A WHITE OFFICER DID THIS TO A BLACK PRISONER AL SHARPTON, JESSE JACKSON AND A SLEW OF OTHERS WOULD BE SCREAMING RACIAL INCIDENT. NO WHERE IN THE FLORIDA MEDIA DOES IT SAY IT WAS A BLACK OFFICER AND A WHITE PRISONER....AND THAT IS HOW IT SHOULD BE.JUST PRESENT THE FACTS. HOWEVER IT ONLY MENTIONS THE RACES OF THOSE INVOLVED IF ITS A WHITE COP AND A BLACK PRISONER. SICK AND TIRED OF THE DOUBLE STANDARD. AS A PERSON NOW IN A WHEELCHAIR..I SAY SUE..SUE..SUE. THEN EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD HAVE TO ATTEND SENSITIVITY TRANING AND LEARNING HOW AND WHAT TO DO WHEN DEALING WITH A PERSON WHO SUFFERS FROM A DISIBILITY. EVEN IF HE WAS GUILTY OF SOMETHING NO ONE SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE THAT. SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE ATE ONE TO MANY DONUTS....

[edlee]

Does anyone know what he was brought in for?? It certainly doesn't excuse her actions, but I was curious.

Don't feel too sorry for him. As was said earlier, he's gonna do pretty well from this, and every little bit of exposure for those in chairs, does us all a service.

Nothing remotely like this is likely to happen again, any time soon, tho I forsee some lowlife stealing a chair, thinking it will help him with the police, sometime soon.

There are assholes on both sides of the badge.
ed

[Kwag_Myers]

edlee, on Feb 13 2008, 01:16 AM, said:

Does anyone know what he was brought in for??

The article says he was arrested for traffic violations. After he wins the law suit he'll be able to hire a driver. Might be a good move.

[alex blackburn]

that was really terrible!

[Theresar360]

alex blackburn, on Feb 13 2008, 05:20 AM, said:

that was really terrible!

I am just sick about this! What a horrible person! I have a baby granddaughter who is now 20 months old who is a quad. If some friggen jerk did this to her God Help Them! How could someone be so cruel. I also say fire them, sue them, and then criminally charge them for assault!....

Edited by Theresar360, 13 February 2008 - 03:01 PM.

[Doug]

I only wish this happened to me................Im up for letting the world know........this is as bad as the cops in cally that picked a quad up by his legs and shook him up side down to search him.

[Joed]

In one news report it was stated that the guy doesn't intend to sue anyone...he simply wants a public apology issued by those involved.

All I could think about while watching this disturbing video was that this guy could've died had the event triggered AD. There was some mention about broken ribs...I wasn't sure if he had actually broken his ribs or if that was one of his initial concerns.

At any rate, the behavior is indefensible. Axe the chair dumper and all the smiling faces.

[dom]

yeah! i agree with all of the above, lucky it was on cctv,how many incidents aren't recorded that's what i'd like to know?

[Kev-O]

Doug, on Feb 13 2008, 03:36 PM, said:

I only wish this happened to me................Im up for letting the world know........this is as bad as the cops in cally that picked a quad up by his legs and shook him up side down to search him.

I agree, this kinda makes you want to go to Tampa just to brake the law an get a chance at winning the jack pot lol

[Kwag_Myers]

Kwag_Myers, on Feb 13 2008, 06:44 AM, said:

edlee, on Feb 13 2008, 01:16 AM, said:

Does anyone know what he was brought in for??

The article says he was arrested for traffic violations. After he wins the law suit he'll be able to hire a driver. Might be a good move.

Update (CNN):

"Sterner was arrested at his Riverview home and taken to the Orient Road Jail on a charge of fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer, according to records...A warrant for Sterner's arrest was issued after an October 25 incident, in which police stopped him while driving a car fitted with hand pedals and cited him for blocking an intersection."

"My client was stopped that night and was given a traffic citation, so how could he be fleeing and eluding?" Sterner's lawyer John Trevena said. "We're very skeptical about the basis for the charge itself."

[woodman]

Motor, on Feb 12 2008, 12:50 PM, said:

... AS A RETIRED COP I SAY FIRE, ARREST AND SUE HER. WHERE WERE HER SUPERVISORS. AS FOR THOSE WHO WATCHED AND LAUGHED HANG THEM OUT TO DRY AS WELL.

... AS A PERSON NOW IN A WHEELCHAIR..I SAY SUE..SUE..SUE. THEN EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD HAVE TO ATTEND SENSITIVITY TRANING AND LEARNING HOW AND WHAT TO DO WHEN DEALING WITH A PERSON WHO SUFFERS FROM A DISIBILITY. EVEN IF HE WAS GUILTY OF SOMETHING NO ONE SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE THAT. SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE ATE ONE TO MANY DONUTS...

No shit, Man! I'm with you on that one.


...but I say sue the whole f*ucking department since it was one perp with no intervention from surrounding officers who are entrusted to maintain public safety.

A good lawyer could make the case that this guy was not safe in the presence of MULTIPLE police department individuals, so there is no way that blame can be pinned on a single person when department personnel clearly ALLOWED this to happen.

It doesn't help the cops to see them laughing at the guy after one of their own broke two of the quads ribs, and the Major in charge of the department stated that the incident was not reported because "they did not have a problem with, nor cause a problem to anyone in a wheelchair."

IMO, The only thing that can swiftly and effectively motivate entrenched bureaucrats is money, so yes, SUE THEM!
Sue the whole department.

I say go for the brass ring and sue for double-digit million$. No matter what the award, the cops will file an appeal, anyway, so go big.

If cops are smart, they will settle out-of-court with a gag agreement because this whole thing makes Hillsborough law enforcement community look ridiculously inept, and offers validation to claims (whether real or bogus) that cops, everywhere, tend to behave like Nazis.

Edited by woodman, 13 February 2008 - 10:06 PM.

[sprintcar88h]

http://today.msnbc.m...142859#23142859

[jon&kate]

Wow. The worst thing that's ever happened to us was in an airport. I requested an aisle chair for Jon so we could board the plane. The ticket agent yelled, "Can't you EVEN STAND UP TO WALK ONTO THE PLANE?!?!" as if he were simply lazy. Luckily for that woman, Jon began to drag me away by my sleeve because I almost went over the counter at her throat in that instant. (He is the calm one thankfully). Eventually, the PILOT of the airplane actually rounded up an aisle chair and helped me transfer Jon into a seat. He said his brother was a para. I complained about it like crazy to the corporate office later in writing but nothing much ever came from it.
If anyone ever treated Jon the way this guy in the video was treated - I would hunt them down. I would sue them so bad they would not know what hit them. This makes me so furious. I know they fired her but I SERIOUSLY hope this guy will obtain an attorney and make a statement that people living with disabilities will not tolerate this kind of treatment. SUE THE WHOLE DAMN DEPARTMENT AND OR THE CITY FOR IMPROPERLY TRAINING THEIR EMPLOYEES! HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!

[KarenFerguson]

Wow ... I'm glad Sterner brought light to this and didn't just sit at home feeling sorry for himself. Again, I must say ... wow, that's just terrible.

[Motor]

KarenFerguson, on Feb 13 2008, 09:37 PM, said:

Wow ... I'm glad Sterner brought light to this and didn't just sit at home feeling sorry for himself. Again, I must say ... wow, that's just terrible.

AS OF 11:00 NEWS IN S FLORIDA FOUR EMPLOYESS INVOLVED HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED AND POSSIBLY TERMINATED ALREADY...GREAT JOB OF TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS BY SHERIFF!

[bensinjury]

it's hard to imagine that in the year 2008 this shit is happening...all i can say is thank goodness for video cameras...every one involved needs to be shit canned!!! It's too bad that he had to endure what he did BUT i think he will be a VERY WEALTHY MAN because of it.

[lune14]

Hmmm I think I've finally found the reason why disabled parking places are NEVER patrolled. LOL

[wheeliebear75]

I remember the incident where the cops shook the quadriplegic to search him. As I understand from the news the department IS punishing the guilty officer from Florida. I personally think that EVERY officer in EVERY department SHOULD HAVE TO take a course in disability awareness. Many local colleges offer them, and there are on-line courses available. I don't know about anyone else; but I'd sure as Hell be willing to go into my local precinct and give the local cops a crash course disability awareness.......and @ no charge. I smoke marijuana and although I've got a Dr.'s recommendation..........I do worry that one of these days I'll bump into a cop who not only won't except my paperwork & explanation but would be like THAT cop. In the vid even my blind ass can clearly see that the man's legs were atrophied and that he was TRYING to stay IN the chair. What about those of us who aren't complete??? Sure a medical person can tell that there's a difference in muscle tone but your average AB person wouldn't. I can move my legs and even do some standing.......um but with forearm crutches. Most of us would be in the same predicament as the man in Florida...........on the floor if unable to stand. I think any of us who DO call the jail or sheriff's office should request they do a department wide mandatory disability awareness. That's my 2 cents.

[fastwheels]

here is the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to make a sue the two police do not go back to work & they must be sacked & arrested for GBH to a disabled (Brian Sterner)



http://www.hcso.tampa.fl.us/

[ryan08/06/88]

Like he said though, stuff like this happens all the time, not just to disabled people but to able-bodied people too...people in charge think they're protected by the system and can do what they like...

[GLENDA]

Theresar360, on Feb 13 2008, 09:00 AM, said:

alex blackburn, on Feb 13 2008, 05:20 AM, said:

that was really terrible!

T
I am just sick about this! What a horrible person! I have a baby granddaughter who is now 20 months old who is a quad. If some friggen jerk did this to her God Help Them! How could someone be so cruel. I also say fire them, sue them, and then criminally charge them for assault!....

This is off the subject... I read your post while my son and I were in the hospital. Dec 2007 for his recent injury c4c5 April 2007. I was unable to sleep for the tought of what you are going through. At this date He is still hospitalized!!! I am new to this forum. I have to take a deep breath and Pray for you and your family. I don't know how to email you privately so please email me. Your grandaughter and your whole family have been on our lips and hearts.... glendabrigance@hotmail.com

[size=7] As for the rest of you please forgive my crude way of communication....I guess I will catch on.

[Joed]

And yet another one from the same department:

Dumped

Looks like this department could use a little sensitivity training.

[Apparelyzed]

Ex-Deputy In Wheelchair Case Charged With Disabled Abuse

TAMPA - Prosecutors filed a formal charge today against a former Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office detention deputy seen on videotape dumping a quadriplegic from a wheelchair as he is being processed into Orient Road Jail on Jan. 29.

Charlette Marshall-Jones, a 22-year veteran of the sheriff's office, has been charged with abusing the disabled.

It is a third-degree felony and punishable by up to five years in prison.

Marshall-Jones, 44, turned herself in at Orient Road Jail at 5 a.m. Feb. 16. She was booked, processed and released by 6:18 a.m. after posting $3,500 bail, Hillsborough sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

Sheriff David Gee announced on the evening of Feb. 15 that a warrant had been issued for her arrest.

The quadriplegic, Brian Sterner, 32, was arrested by Tampa police on Jan. 29 at his home in Riverview and taken to Orient Road Jail. He posted bail and was freed Feb. 3.