62 Year old grandfather on vacation dies in Florida police custody

The Daily Mail ^ | 01/12/2012 | Lee Moran

[Duke of Qin]

A mentally ill grandfather died after police officers strapped him naked to a chair, smothered him with a 'spit hood' and pepper-sprayed him 10 times during a 43-hour ordeal, it has been claimed.

Nick Christie, 62, was allegedly tortured in the 'Devil's Chair' at Lee County jail after being detained by Florida police officers in March 2009 following a 'mental breakdown'.

The hood, designed to stop him from spitting at officers, meant he could not escape the noxious spray's fumes - and he was never allowed to clean the residue from his body.

His family is now suing Lee County Sheriff's Department for 'wrongful death'.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2085628/Nick-Christie-Mentally-ill-prisoner-strapped-Devils-Chair-pepper-sprayed-death.html#ixzz1jSkweFsk

[Peter from Rutland]

FL cops are notorious. I remember years ago they would stop people on 95 and if they had a lot of cash on them, and nothing else, they would confiscate it with no stated reason. Thus began my boycott of the state. My son hates Disney with a passion anyway (I did something right!).

[swamprebel]

My sentiments are the least of concerns for the ilk who would defend murder of the “least amoung us” and children.
The civil trial will pale in comparison to their fate.

[bigbob]

This is just wrong in every possible way. That PD better have a good insurance company. The people there deserve better than this lot.

[Blue Ink]

“It’s always Florida.”

Uh-uh. Southern California. The LAPD, for example, used to be the best-trained, most courteous and professional police force in the world.

Then they started letting hiring requirements slide, enlisting ex-gangbangers and other types with shady pasts.

Now we’ve got two Orange County cops awaiting trial for beating a mentally ill homeless guy to death on a public street.

At least they’ve been removed from the force and charged with murder.

[combat_boots]

British or Asian.

Not the US’

You’ve got that right.

[Gaffer]

I recently viewed all three Netflix movies: Red Riding 74, 80 and 83 and I was so disillusioned that I can NEVER, EVER believe that any police force will tell the truth of what they do. Power corrupts absolutely.

We as citizens should do more to ensure we don’t install maniacs in positions of power. Police develop an “Us against ‘them’ mentality” and will lie, cheat, steal and murder to protect themselves and theirs.

[hinckley buzzard]

Considering the victim was confused, disoriented and already couldn't breathe due to advanced COPD, they might have considered taking him to an ER before giving him the rubber hose treatment.

[humblegunner]

I had to reword it slightly

Yeah, slightly.

And what "slight" legal ramifications might there be in such an act?

What might hat do to the search function here? Slightly?

[Respond Code Three]

So far, this has not been ruled as a "murder." It may happen down the road. For the moment it has been ruled as a homicide, not a murder.

If a homeowner shoots and kills an intruder, the Coroner will rule it as a homicide, even if it justifiable. Almost everyday, citizens or sworn officers are shooting and killing someone who is committing a felony. In each case, the Coroner will rule it as a homicide.

Of course now, some will read this and accuse me of defending the actions of the officers in this incident. I am not.

[savedbygrace]

Does Florida Governor Scott have the authority to order a State investigation into this case?

http://www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott/

[freeangel]

“Hopefully the feds will step in and arrest some of these goons for murder”

Only if the grandfather was a “person of color”.

[Gaffer]

A point of order....not ‘ruled’ a homicide. Just opined by a coroner. DA is the one to prosecute for homicide. That said, the entire police force there should be imprisoned without parole.

[Jeff Chandler]

The LAPD, for example, used to be the best-trained, most courteous and professional police force in the world.

Then they started letting hiring requirements slide, enlisting ex-gangbangers and other types with shady pasts.

Now we’ve got two Orange County cops awaiting trial for beating a mentally ill homeless guy to death on a public street.

You switched forces in mid story.

[heartwood]

An elderly, disoriented man with a slew of medications (locked up in a police truck according to the article) and they never once had him medically screened?

It would still be possible to bring charges, if the prosecutor had any integrity or balls.

[Jeff Chandler]

So...

the Los Angeles Police Department was good,
then they lowered their standards,
and the result was two officers in the Fullerton Police Department beat a guy to death.

[donna]

How do they get him into the ambulance?

[LucyT]

A mentally ill grandfather died after police officers strapped him naked to a chair, smothered him with a 'spit hood' and pepper-sprayed him 10 times during a 43-hour ordeal, it has been claimed.

Nick Christie, 62, was allegedly tortured in the 'Devil's Chair' at Lee County jail after being detained by Florida police officers in March 2009 following a 'mental breakdown'.

More from the article:

An internal investigation concluded there no wrongdoing on the part of any Lee County deputy.

None of the deputies involved were disciplined in any way and Florida State Attorney Stephen Russell declined to press criminal charges.

. . . . Article, then see # 6.

[DTogo]

The final 30 minutes of John Rambo’s “activities” in First Blood come to mind...

[dsc]

Another FR poster said about another case, “Now we have thousands of roided-up paramilitary goons who think they’re living an episode of “The Shield,” treating us all like we’re MS-13 gangbangers on a three-day meth high.”

I support good cops and proper, constitutional procedures. I don’t ask that cops take unnecessary risks. However, this appears to be completely over the top.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

For all of you here on FR who continually bray about “supporting law enforcement” I give you exhibit “A.”

Police are no different than any other group on the face of the earth. There are bad ones amongst them.

Your broad-brush painting is ridiculous. Do you think the same thing about our military protecting you?