Guest guest Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 Deputies dump paralyzed man from wheelchair 4 sheriff’s deputies suspended for incident caught on video in Florida jail http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23143979/ TAMPA, Fla. - Four sheriff's deputies have been suspended after purposely tipping a paralyzed man out of his wheelchair onto a jailhouse floor, authorities said. Surveillance footage from Jan. 29 shows Hillsborough County Deputy Charlette Marshall-, 44, dumping Sterner out of his wheelchair and searching him on the floor after he was brought in on a warrant after a traffic violation. Sterner, 32, said when he was taken into a booking room and told to stand up, grew agitated when he told her that he could not. " She was irked that I wasn't complying to what she was telling me to do, " he told The Tampa Tribune in Tuesday's edition. " It didn't register with her that she was asking me to do something I can't do. " Sterner can drive a car but has not been able to walk since a 1994 wrestling accident. He has no feeling below his sternum and has partial use of his arms. has been suspended without pay, and Sgt. Hinson, 51, Cpl. Dickey, 45 and Cpl. Decondra , 36 have also been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie said. " The actions are indefensible at every level, " Chief Deputy Docobo said. " Based on what I saw, anything short of dismissal would be inappropriate. " A woman who answered ' telephone said was unavailable. A message left at a telephone number listed for a Dickey in Tampa was not immediately returned Tuesday night. Listings for Hinson and could not be located. 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. He posted $2,000 bond and was released Feb 3. Cited for blocking intersection A warrant for Sterner's arrest was issued after an Oct. 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 Trevena said. " We're very skeptical about the basis for the charge itself. " Trevena said he hopes authorities investigate the deputies for criminal charges. He said he was " mortified " when he watched the footage. " I couldn't believe that a detention deputy would be so callous toward an individual, whether they were disabled or not, " he said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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