Homeless Man Paralyzed by Police for Sleeping in Public, lawsuit alleges

Thursday, March 21, 2024

A man filed a federal lawsuit Monday alleging he was paralyzed and needed his legs amputated after police officers in St. Petersburg, Florida, put him in restraints, placed him in the back of a police van without a seatbelt and then drove in a reckless manner.

Posted by tres_flechas at 03:30 PM | 16 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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They got away with killing Freddie Gray, I assume they'll get promotions for this in Florida.

#1 | Posted by qcp at 2024-03-21 09:43 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

I guess these cops will soon be the personal security detail for Desantis.

#2 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2024-03-21 10:29 AM | Reply

The police just made this man a millionaire using the taxpayers money.

#3 | Posted by Nixon at 2024-03-21 12:36 PM | Reply

Didn't Desanturd advertise for police fired from "woke" cities for being psycopaths to come to FL?

#4 | Posted by Nixon at 2024-03-21 12:37 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

made this man a millionaire using the taxpayers money.

#3 | POSTED BY NIXON

They made him a head on a stick.

#5 | Posted by tres_flechas at 2024-03-21 01:36 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

The police just made this man a millionaire using the taxpayers money.
#3 | POSTED BY NIXON

I wouldn't trade the use of my limbs for all of the money in the world.

#6 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2024-03-21 01:37 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

WTH, no seatbelts in a transport van? That's insane.

#7 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-03-22 12:26 AM | Reply

WTH, no seatbelts in a transport van? That's insane.

#7 | POSTED BY MIRANDA7

Do busses need them? Light rail??

Seems like it could be made optional?

Idk I've seen government Econoline transport vans without belts.

Government seems to get waivers for a lot of the rules they create.

#8 | Posted by oneironaut at 2024-03-22 12:49 AM | Reply

Thacker opened the rear doors of the van and found Sanchez-Mayen "lying face down, motionless, unconscious, and unresponsive," the suit states. The officer unsuccessfully attempted to wake him up and then dragged his limp body out of the van, causing Sanchez-Mayen to hit his head on the bumper, the door and the concrete floor

Not sure a seat belt was going to help.

#9 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-03-22 12:49 AM | Reply

WTH, no seatbelts in a transport van? That's insane.
#7 | POSTED BY MIRANDA7

They have seat belts.
They didn't use them.

Like #1 said:
They wanted to give him a rough ride.
Just like they did to Freddie Gray.

You were a cop, not sure why you're playing the innocent act.

This is a perfect example of how you sabotage your own credibility.

Or maybe... you were just being sarcastic.

#10 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-03-22 01:01 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

They have seat belts.

From the pic in the article it doesn't look like they did. Just a flat bench seat.

#11 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-03-22 01:03 AM | Reply

Okay.

That isn't any better.

Putting someone in restraints means they can't secure themselves while the vehicle is in motion.

I'm optimistic our ex cop can agree with that much!

But if she can't I'm willing to hog tie her and drive her around the block seven times. We have some pretty good speed bumps, I bet I could bounce her head off the ceiling.

#12 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-03-22 01:07 AM | Reply

Transport vans are required to have seat belts installed. I have never seen a transport van without MULTIPLE sets of seatbekts. Operating a transport van without occupants belted in is absolutely reckless. This horrific case is inexcusable, and should result in prosecution at several levels.

#13 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2024-03-22 09:08 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"reckless"

Deliberate is a better word than reckless.

#14 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-03-22 09:22 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

but please, tell us again why defund the police" was outrageous and misguided against our poor officers.

#15 | Posted by e1g1 at 2024-03-22 01:00 PM | Reply

This is an insane and very depressing story. This man's life was already bad and now it is ruined. These cops belong in prison. Where are the criminal charges?

#16 | Posted by JOE at 2024-03-22 01:33 PM | Reply