Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Woman, 35, had her arm amputated because 'police handcuffs were too tight'
Daily Mail ^ | 7:44 EST, 31 December 2013 | Daily Mail Reporter

Posted on 12/31/2013 6:22:25 PM PST by null and void

A Pittsburgh woman is suing authorities after she had to have her arm amputated because police officers used ‘excessive force’ while they arrested her and refused to give her access to a doctor.

The mother-of-three, Amy Needham, 35, of Ross, says the officers entered her home to execute an arrest warrant for failing to show up to a preliminary hearing.

When sheriff's office employees arrived, Needham said she was using the bathroom, but they broke down the bathroom door.

Rough arrest: Police officers shocked Amy Needham, 35, with a Taser, applied arm bars and wrist locks, and put on handcuffs 'that were too tight' before taking her to Allegheny County Jail

According to her attorney, Marvin Leibowitz, the tight handcuffs caused her to suffer compartment syndrome, a limb- and life-threatening condition that occurs after an injury.

Leibowitz says while Needham sat in jail, she made 16 requests to see a doctor for treatment but was denied.

‘They never sent her a doctor. Never took her to the doctor. She developed a septic shock and she almost died and they had to take off her arm

Asked for help: The victim's attorney, Marvin Leibowitz, says while Needham sat in jail she made 16 requests to see a doctor for treatment which were denied

Needham, who had previously worked in a restaurant, is now waiting for a prosthesis.

‘I think she’s been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. She doesn’t have an arm. How is she going to get a job?’

Deputies had arrested her for failing to show up at a preliminary hearing on a charge that was eventually reduced to disorderly conduct.

She is now suing the deputies in question and the Allegheny County Jail and seeks $75,000 in damages.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: donutwatch; police; policebrutality; taser
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-120 next last
To: CitizenUSA

Doesn’t really matter now does it. She will get awarded lots of tax payer dollars because of a few stupid cops. Oh and she lost an arm.


81 posted on 12/31/2013 9:06:17 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: CitizenUSA

There are valid reasons why a person might miss the preliminary trial, having to go to,your job or face being fired are just one of those reasons or perhaps she didn’t have transportation.

Not everybody has the means to deal with the legal system as they should and, considering just how out of 1984 the government is becoming, as a Freeper we should be a bit more understanding since any one of us, who love freedom, are now basically considered enemies of the state.


82 posted on 12/31/2013 9:16:21 PM PST by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]

To: driftdiver

We’ll have to check back in on this story later on and see how it turns out. $75K for losing an arm? Police needlessly using excessive violence to bring a cooperative citizen in? Jail authorities withholding medical treatment? Something sounds very fishy and regardless, none of it would have happened had she simply showed up in court like she was supposed to.


83 posted on 12/31/2013 9:16:50 PM PST by CitizenUSA (Sodomy and abortion. The only constitutional rights protected by Democrats.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: CitizenUSA
Do you really believe the police treated her like this for no reason whatsoever?

I'm sure they had their reasons. Having them doesn't make them legally valid or their force level acceptable; nor do their reasons trump our rights.

It's not about the injuries incurred during arrest, it's about the medical neglect while in custody that has cooked their goose.

84 posted on 12/31/2013 9:19:34 PM PST by Valpal1 (If the police can t solve a problem with brute force, they ll find a way to fix it with brute force)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: Jonty30

I never intended to defend the police or justice system in this thread. If the story is accurate (a big IF in my opinion), the lady was mistreated—horribly so. However, something doesn’t pass the smell test.

I also agree with your point of view that maybe she had a valid reason for not showing up to the preliminary hearing. The story was surprisingly short of pertinent details. We shouldn’t be rushing to condemn her (and I wasn’t), nor should we rush to condemn the police until we hear more.


85 posted on 12/31/2013 9:20:49 PM PST by CitizenUSA (Sodomy and abortion. The only constitutional rights protected by Democrats.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: CitizenUSA

She wouldn’t have lost her arm if the cops did their jobs.


86 posted on 12/31/2013 9:24:41 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: Valpal1

Valpal1: “Having them doesn’t make them legally valid or their force level acceptable; nor do their reasons trump our rights.”

Nor does it make their reasons legally invalid, and if she refused to peacefully submit, the police have a legal right to use whatever level of force is necessary to take her into custody. How do we know she didn’t fight back? The story is entirely from her point of view.


87 posted on 12/31/2013 9:25:16 PM PST by CitizenUSA (Sodomy and abortion. The only constitutional rights protected by Democrats.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 84 | View Replies]

To: CitizenUSA

None of which explains the lack of medical care.

There are no valid reasons for that.


88 posted on 12/31/2013 9:27:57 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 87 | View Replies]

To: null and void

$75,000? - Why not 75 Million?

I hope everyone here gets the pertinent message here, without anyone having to voice it.
.


89 posted on 12/31/2013 9:37:38 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CitizenUSA

I wasn’t trying to be harsh with you :), but I find that some Freepers have little knowledge as to badly damaged some people are in America today and believe that if you keep hitting borderline people hard enough, fast enough, and often enough, they will eventually straighten out their life.

I’m convinced that some of these borderline personalities were once children of Freepers. :)


90 posted on 12/31/2013 9:38:21 PM PST by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 85 | View Replies]

To: CitizenUSA

You always find a way to make us want to vomit!
.


91 posted on 12/31/2013 9:39:28 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Innovative

When circulation is cut toxins build up in the limb, then it causes the septic condition which led to the amputation.


92 posted on 12/31/2013 9:42:05 PM PST by tioga (Wise men still seek Him.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: House Atreides

Satan’s little helper!

You’ve done well today.


93 posted on 12/31/2013 9:42:15 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: CitizenUSA

The injury and how it happened is immaterial to the fact that they failed to treat it for a week and then she had to have an emergency amputation.

Hello, the problem was not the arrest, injuries happen all the time during arrests. It’s the failure to treat while in custody that has them by the short hairs.

That is the part they cannot slide by or blame on the victim’s behavior.


94 posted on 12/31/2013 9:43:24 PM PST by Valpal1 (If the police can t solve a problem with brute force, they ll find a way to fix it with brute force)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 87 | View Replies]

To: null and void

I ticked one off today

I was going into a courthouse, showed my bar card and started to go through

he about jumped out of his skin and said no you still have to scan everything

your bar card only gets your electronic device in

I said oh yeah I remember you telling me that exact thing the last time

but my electronic device didn’t take the bar exam

he looked evilly at me


95 posted on 12/31/2013 9:44:32 PM PST by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Innovative

>> “What caused that?” <<

.
Interruption of the oxygen normally supplied by blood flow.


96 posted on 12/31/2013 9:46:49 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: editor-surveyor
"You always find a way to make us want to vomit!"

How exactly do I always make you want to vomit? I read your posts all the time, and I can't recall that you've ever posted much in response to anything I've written. My posts very rarely fall out of typical FReeper thought on the issues. What particular point have I made here that makes you want to vomit?
97 posted on 12/31/2013 9:53:41 PM PST by CitizenUSA (Sodomy and abortion. The only constitutional rights protected by Democrats.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]

To: Trailerpark Badass

“How about we insist on hiring actual human beings as police officers?”

SOrry, actual human beings won’t work as police officers.


98 posted on 12/31/2013 9:58:00 PM PST by GladesGuru (Islam Delenda Est - Because of what Islam is and because of what Muslims do.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Valpal1
You keep quoting all these facts, but you're missing the point. The article was written entirely from the lady's point of view. How do we even know she made 16 requests to see a doctor? Look. If events happened exactly as she claims, she was wronged and will win her case. Why do so many of you automatically assume I'm picking sides in this rather than simply pointing out #1 she initiated the chain of events by failing to show at a required hearing (whether intentionally or not) and #2 we are ONLY getting one side of this story. I mean, seriously. Some are even trying to diagnose her medical issue based solely on the scant details reported here. Ridiculous!
99 posted on 12/31/2013 10:01:25 PM PST by CitizenUSA (Sodomy and abortion. The only constitutional rights protected by Democrats.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: CitizenUSA

>> “What particular point have I made here that makes you want to vomit?” <<

Your all too often expressed disdain for the victim of tyranny.

It doesn’t appear to me that anyone else found your cute little admonition to be any more acceptable than I did.

There are times when it would be better to remain silent.
.


100 posted on 12/31/2013 10:01:43 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 97 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-120 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson