Posted on 03/11/2005 9:49:39 AM PST by Abathar
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A police officer twice used a Taser stun device on a drug suspect who was restrained to a hospital bed because the man refused to give a urine sample to medical staff, authorities said.
Antonio Wheeler, 18, was arrested Friday on a drug charge and taken to an emergency room after telling officers he had consumed cocaine, police said.
Because Wheeler said he had used the drugs, Florida Hospital officials wanted a urine sample. A police affidavit said Wheeler wouldn't provide a sample on his own, so workers tried to catheterize him to get one.
The police document said Wheeler was handcuffed to a hospital bed and then secured with leather straps after he refused to urinate in a cup. When medical staff tried to insert a catheter to get the sample, Wheeler refused and began thrashing around, the affidavit said.
At one point, police officer Peter Linnenkamp reported, he jumped on the bed with his knees on Wheeler's chest to restrain him. When Wheeler still refused to let the catheter be inserted, Linnenkamp said he twice used his Taser, which sends 50,000 volts into a target.
"After the second shock (Wheeler) stated he would urinate and calmed down enough to be given the portable urinal," Linnenkamp wrote.
At the request of Police Chief Michael McCoy, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident.
Linnenkamp, who has more than 18 years on the force, has no history of disciplinary problems, said Sgt. Barbara Jones, a department spokeswoman.
He has been relieved pending the investigation's outcome. Jones said officers in such suspensions usually are paid.
In a Tuesday interview at the Orange County jail, Wheeler acknowledged that he aggressively resisted efforts to insert the catheter because he was scared it would hurt. He said the police officer told him the catheter would be necessary if he wouldn't or couldn't urinate on his own.
"I feel I was basically raped," Wheeler said.
Said Amnesty International USA spokesman Edward Jackson: "If this had taken place in China, it would be an egregious violation of human rights, and the public would be outraged.
"I hope that they don't allow the fact that it happened on U.S. soil deter from the fact that this may very well be a case of torture."
Florida Hospital spokeswoman Melanie Trivento said in a statement Wednesday that hospital officials wouldn't be able to comment on the case until they have thoroughly reviewed it.
"This is a very unusual situation and we are examining all of the circumstances surrounding the incident," the statement said.
Earlier, another hospital spokeswoman, Samantha O'Lenick, said she could not speak specifically about the Wheeler case but said hospital protocol calls for urine samples whenever patients say they have taken drugs or alcohol.
Wheeler was being held on $7,500 bail on charges including possession of cocaine with intent to sell, escape and resisting without violence. Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
That's what I think too....
But I wonder why the hospital wanted a sample? He can refuse treatment.....
ahh well he's a dip$hit for using coke in the first place and the cops seem to have screwed the pooch. Nothing to see here...move along... :)
What are the statutory award limits against public employees in Florida? For most in Massachusetts, it is $100,000. With limits on government but none on private enterprise, I'm amazed that capitalism still survives.
At one point, police officer Peter Linnenkamp reported, he jumped on the bed with his knees on Wheeler's chest to restrain him. When Wheeler still refused to let the catheter be inserted, Linnenkamp said he twice used his Taser, which sends 50,000 volts into a target.
This 'officer' should be arrested for assult and battery on a restrained person. Simply absurd.
FMCDH(BITS)
Using the $100,000 award limit for 4 oz. urine that comes to $3.2 million per gallon.
>yeah but I dont know...I think a good prosecutor could >make a reasonable case for probable cause since the guy >had ADMITTED to using Cocaine.
Yeah, probable cause FOR ISSUING A WARRANT. Just because some cop claims you said something doesn't give him the right to forcibly take your bodily fluid!
Bet that shocked the pi$$ out of somebody.
hey hey hey....
just throwing that out there...it isnt like I believed it....just looking at both sides ok?
calm down...
All they had to do was sit back and wait.
And probably not very long.
"Legs pulled out, strapped down to the mattress, to where I could not move," Wheeler said. "He Tasered me, and then he got up on top of me, jumped on my chest. He was jumping on my chest and putting the Taser to my head.
"Yes, I was scared. I was screaming for my life because he had already tasered me, and then he told me if I didn't produce it, he was going to taser me again. And by that time he was already on top of me, so I was already strapped down. I was like, 'Lord please help. Please give me one more chance. I will produce it.
"I couldn't resist. I was strapped down to the mattress. He was on top of me with the Taser. Before he jumped on me he said, 'I guess I got to do this the old fashioned way.'
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will conduct an investigation into the incident.
I think this is an abuse of power.
>calm down...
I'm not upset! I used the caps to emphasize because I do not know HTML and there is no easy way to use italics or bold print.
Sorry.
They are looking at a bit lawsuit. I personally think it was a big mistake to arm cops with tasers. It gives them a feeling that they can use them if they want because they are "non" lethal, disregarding the fact they are no different than if you beat a guy with a club, plus you have no way of knowing if someone has a pace maker or whatever, tasers will short a pace maker and cause death in many instances. Rare, but it still could happen. Cops are using tasers willy nilly on just about everyone these days
Wasn't florida where the cop tasered a 5 yo?
Big deal. I might do better than that just by walking across a carpeted room and touching a doorknob.
There are easier ways to deal with prostate problems, but I don't care how old you are, a tazer in the junk will make anyone piss themselves.
Yup, administer fluids and drugs intravenously without his consent.
Why not use the Taser?
Or just threaten to crush his testicles in a bench vise. I'm sure the hospital's maintenance department would be happy to supply one. He'd pee.
ok....just wanted to make sure....
as I said, the guy is an idiot for using Coke and the Cops screwed up by being stupidly aggressive....
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