8 hours ago
3
An representation of bodycam footage included successful the suit filed connected behalf of Glenn Smallwood Jr.’s household (Lawsuit).
The household of a Texas subject seasoned who died aft being restrained by jail guards portion having a intelligence wellness situation is suing for wrongful death.
According to the federal lawsuit filed connected Tuesday, 33-year-old Glenn Smallwood Jr. was arrested successful June 2023 connected a misdemeanor nationalist intoxication charge. But his household claims successful the suit that helium was “in a aesculapian and intelligence wellness crisis” astatine the clip of the apprehension and successful request of aesculapian attention. In the lawsuit, respective parties including Angelina County, a nurse, and a sheriff’s lieutenant, are accused of failing to get Smallwood the assistance helium needed and allegedly letting him die.
The lawsuit, filed by civilian rights lawyer Erik Heipt connected behalf of Glenn Smallwood’s estate, outlined what allegedly happened aft the U.S. Army seasoned was taken to the Angelina County Jail successful Lufkin, Texas. According to the lawsuit, Smallwood’s intelligence information was “readily apparent” upon his arrival, and that helium was “paranoid, confused, sweating, shaking, unsteady, and bleeding from his mouth.”
It was the facility’s argumentation to restrain intoxicated detainees successful a seat portion they sobered up, which was what the guards astatine the region jailhouse did to Smallwood. But his information soon reportedly deteriorated and helium became “listless” and started vomiting. The suit stated that the presumption successful which Smallwood was strapped made it harder for him to breathe.
The suit — which included images taken from an officer’s assemblage worn camera — says that portion Smallwood was strapped to the seat and vomiting, the guards were “smiling, laughing, and joking successful absorption to Mr. Smallwood’s sickness.” The suit quoted 1 serviceman arsenic saying “in jest” that “I mightiness propulsion up if I spot that again, man, I can’t.”
In response, the suit said that the guards “fastened and tightened” the straps restraining Smallwood. He was past wheeled into a “detox” holding cell. The suit said, “Before shutting the door, guards heard him retching and moaning and saw him suffer consciousness.”
The suit said a nurse, described arsenic “entry-level” with a “limited scope of license,” past performed a sternum hitch connected Glenn Smallwood to gauge his responsiveness. He did not respond, and she past employed “smelling salts” to temporarily aftermath him up earlier leaving him successful the holding compartment alone.
Fifteen minutes aft the caregiver near Smallwood alone, jailhouse guards recovered him dead.
The suit stated that Smallwood suffered from schizoaffective upset and had been trying to get a medicine medicine from the Burke Center, a intelligence wellness installation wherever helium had antecedently been treated. While there, Smallwood was “in a authorities of progressive psychosis.” Recognizing the severity of his condition, unit astatine the installation attempted to person him “involuntarily transferred” to a infirmary for inpatient treatment. But portion they were getting the paperwork successful order, Smallwood near the facility.
According to the suit, it was believed that Smallwood “self-medicated” with methamphetamine, which tin “exacerbate the psychotic symptoms.”
The Burke Center had issued a intelligence wellness warrant for Smallwood truthful authorities could find him and instrumentality him to the infirmary for treatment. When Lufkin authorities heard astir Smallwood “behaving bizarrely,” they responded to the country — but took him to jailhouse alternatively of a hospital.
In a connection to McClatchy News, Smallwood’s member John Smallwood said the jailhouse guards “treated him worse than an animal.” He further said, “It’s disturbing to maine that jailhouse guards were joking and laughing erstwhile my member was strapped successful a chair, vomiting and losing consciousness.”
Angelina County Sheriff Tom Selman, whose lieutenant was contiguous during Smallwood’s detention and was named successful the suit, besides provided a connection to McClatchy News via email, saying that helium “met with Mr. Smallwood’s household personally aft helium passed distant and they are bully people.” He added, “I judge our attorneys would beryllium disappointed successful maine if I made immoderate statements regarding the case.”
Smallwood near down 3 young children. His household is suing for compensatory damages and punitive damages.
English (US) ·