The Tampa Tribune has reported that a bipolar and schizophrenic Polk county inmate may have died after being shocked by an electronic riot shield, as contended in a lawsuit.
Five years ago, J.L.G. allegedly died after being dragged from his cell by 10 Polk deputies that then used an electronic riot shield on him.
The lawsuit has been filed by the victim’s mother, G.S.
A federal jury selection is underway to determine who is responsible for J.L.G.’s wrongful death. The trial is expected to last two weeks.
An attorney for G.S., Tom Scarritt, stated, “This case is one in which the jury will have to decide how society wants to treat its mentally ill, including those in jail.”
In 2007 G.S. sued the 10 deputies, and Sheriff G.J., in state court. She claimed that the deputies used excessive force on her son.
Two years later, the case was removed to federal court.
The attorney for both the Sheriff and the deputies, Jonathan B. Trohn, declined to make a statement on the litigation.
J.L.G. allegedly told jail personnel that he suffered from psychiatric problems.
A medical examiner’s autopsy, and a pathologist hired by the defense, both said that the cause of death was “excited delirium syndrome.” The syndrome is thought to have been caused by the victim’s mental problems, which was exacerbated by the struggle that he had with the deputies.
A forensic psychologist hired by the victim’s family found that he had choked to death. The pathologist also said that J.L.G.’s injuries were ones that were indicative of blows to the head and electric shocks.
On March 18, 2006 J.L.G. was arrested and jailed – due to violating his parole – when he had gotten into an altercation with another diner at a pancake restaurant in Lake Wales.
J.L.G. had a curfew for a burglary conviction.
Documents show that J.L.G. had a record of mental problems, court-ordered hospitalizations and that he had stopped taking his medications months before.
The same night he was arrested, his mother claims that she was considering a involuntary commitment.
When J.L.G. entered the jail he quickly became belligerent and loud – and moved to a padded cell to keep him from hurting himself. His behavior ranged from being calm to agitated.
At the jail, a nurse’s evaluation found him to be bipolar and on medication. J.L.G. was then assigned to the jail’s general population and removed from the padded cell.
The 30-second evaluation by the nurse, and allowing him back in with other inmates, proved to excite J.L.G. He soon challenged other inmates to fight with him.
He as put back into isolation.
One of the deputies believed that J.L.G.’s issues were only drug-related. His autopsy showed some trace levels of marijuana.
J.L.G. had trouble back in isolation – he yelled, made threats, banged on the door, threw his food and cracked a window.
He was then ordered into a restraint chair, and 10 deputies entered his cell with the electric shield to subdue him.
The shield is meant to be used as a barrier protection and it includes a Taser.
Deputies claim that the victim charged them.
An inmate claimed that J.L.G. was on his knees, with his hand on a wall, when the 10 deputies “bull dogged” him onto his stomach. The inmate then described watching the victim shocked 5 to 10 seconds with the shield.
Court records state that the victim, not breathing, was then dragged by two deputies to the nurse. The nurse stated that J.L.G. tried to kick her, slammed his heels, and then his head, onto the floor.
Deputies shocked him again, he became unresponsive and stopped breathing.
J.L.G. was pronounced dead 30 minutes later.
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