Posted on 10/01/2007 2:21:01 PM PDT by CaptainK
Updated, 4:47 p.m. | The New York City public advocate, Betsy Gotbaum, called this afternoon for an official investigation into the death of her 45-year-old stepdaughter-in-law, who died in police custody at the airport in Phoenix on Friday while on her way to Tucson to enter an inpatient alcohol rehabilitation program.
In a statement, Betsy Gotbaum’s office criticized the Phoenix police’s handling of the case. The statement said Carol Gotbaum had been “manhandled” and mistreated, sentiments that the family’s lawyer echoed in an interview.
“The family has not reached a conclusion as to whether her care and treatment were inappropriate, but the circumstances were highly unusual,” Michael C. Manning, a lawyer who was hired on Sunday by the Gotbaum family, told The New York Times in a phone interview. “This woman — who was 5-foot-7, less than 110 pounds — was without doubt emotionally disturbed, and at this stage the family understands why the Phoenix Police Department intervened, but it’s what happened after the intervention that causes us concern.”
(Excerpt) Read more at cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com ...
A very sad situation all around. But unfortunately Betsy Gotbaum is already blaming the police.
What did she do to get arrested in the first place?.....
Drunk?
She was late for the flight and they wouldn’t let her on the plane even though it was still at the departure gate.
Was she on standby or had the plane already left the gate?............
They said she was screaming she was a sick woman.
My guess? They’ll find she was bipolar. Bipolar people do stuff like this all the time. The part of the brain that provides judgement and places restrictions on behavior just doesn’t work.
As someone with a bipolar husband that was abused by police, I can tell you many people with family members like this strongly feel police need more education on dealing with the truly ill.
Not only do mentally ill people get abused, but many physical illnesses, such as diabetes can cause a person to get abused by the police. Police think they are just being intractable.
“the jetway had disengaged from the plane”
She was late,she got mad,she lost it !
A sad situation,but an accident nonetheless.
My medical guess is that she misused antidepressants. Also, a simple thing such as hunger can set off someone who is emotionally disturbed and takes antidepressants erratically. Something to do with the blood sugar.
If the situation really happened as they said it did, it sounds like she did this to herself trying to get out of the shackles.
She was not in her right state of mind. She missed her flight which sent her into panic mode and then she was shackled which added to her personal frenzy, clearly not thinking rationally.
I was wondering if she was checking into alcohol rehab why would she be traveling alone?
This is so tragic.
I find it very enlightening that in her “grief” Betsy Gotbum finds the time to hire lawyers and give interviews criticizing the Phoenix PD treatment of her step-daughter.
Well, they are!
There are no rehab centers in NY?
A sure sign litigation will follow. These quacks for hire always preceed legal action. Get 10 FP's in a room and you will typically get 10 opinions.
There are no rehab centers in NY?
She was 5’7” and less than 110 lbs.
I’d say she was hungry a lot.
Not a good situation. Police are not doctors, but a bit of education might indeed help them do their job.
ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.