elderly neighbor taken to hospital, cuffed- NO REPORT FILED??

[jennbeez]

Hi,

We have a weird situation here and I don't know who to ask.

Here's what I know:

67 yo neighbor who lives alone had dehydration and UTI issues. She's physically frail. She showed up at the hospital ER and there was a brown envelope in her purse containing her car keys and the address of where her car was parked scrawled on the outside. No one at the hospital seems to know how she got there. No one seems to know how the car got to the location (a half hour away from the hospital) where it was parked. She had bruises and some bloody places on her wrists. The hospital documented these marks.

She says she was picked up by the county for "driving erratically" and that they cuffed her very tightly because she was "being combative" and put her in the back of the patrol car. When she asked them to loosen the cuffs, they said they could not because it would be against "protocol." (Those were her exact words)

She says the deputies who stopped her then drove her to the hospital and left her in the ER. She doesn't remember if they spoke to anyone, and the hospital has nothing on record about the police bringing her in.

There doesn't seem to be a police report anywhere. We called the city police, the county sheriff's department, and the State Troopers.

She's a former professor and a citizen in good standing. I've never known her to lie about anything, especially something like this. I was with her in the hospital the next day when she discovered the keys to her car in her purse. She had been asking me to call the police and find out where her car was and then she was shocked to find them in her purse.

Is there a way to find out who stopped her? I feel they must have run a license check on her vehicle before they stepped out to talk with her. Wouldn't that information be in the police computer? Don't the county deputies have to file some kind of report if they are going to drive a citizen to the hospital? Why can't we find one?

I'm going to the county sheriff's dept. tomorrow but I'm not sure how helpful they'll be. Any insights you have will be most appreciated.

[creolecop]

If I get a call to a home about a mentally disturbed person, I take them into custody by force if necessary and transport them to the hospital and commit them in the ER. My only written paperwork regarding this is my statement to the doctor. He listens to why I'm bringing him/her in and HE writes it on his paperwork later. They get mental health techs to come standby with the patient during triage and I roll out 10-8. I click clear call tab and type "O" which means removed to medical facility and hit enter. Call cleared no further typing other than that "O" in the disposition box. There is record of it but no report needs to be done.

What you describe does sound strange. If no one has even a record of the stop, then I'd start looking at whether your neighbor is being forth coming about everything, or whether she was some kind of victim.

[txinvestigator1]

What business is any of this yours?

[Piggy]

Even if handcuffs are loose, if you are combative it will cause bruising. Especially if the person is elderly. Her former occupation and the fact that she is a citizen in good standing (whatever that means) does not really mean anything when it comes down to a person who is mentally ill. Protocol in most agencies is to handcuff everyone for their safety regardless if they are being charged, when they are transported in a squad car.

If you are looking to thank the officer for getting your neighbor help, a letter to the editor should suffice.

[phantasm]

Why would the department release information about a radio run to you just because you ask? You weren't a party to the incident.

[PapaBear]

Almost every hospital that I have ever been to has video cameras in their admitting area, emergency room, and around the exterior showing the driveways and entrances. Ask your hospital security to view the videos and identify how she got there.

If you think there is some elderly abuse issues, call the PD and make a proper report. Beyond that it is like HIPAA, a right to know; and, unless you are a party of interest, even under the Freedom of Information Act, you do not have a right to know.

[jennbeez]

Whoa- so many responses. I came to get the police perspective and I got it, thank you.

Now I'll try to answer your responses.

Creole, yours was most helpful. I hadn't thought of the mental health angle. The hospital noted that she was incoherent when she arrived. She had a Urinary Tract Infection and dehydration. Those things (perhaps coupled with the trauma of rough handling by police) would make a person appear appear mentally ill for sure.

"What business is it of mine?" I've been asking myself that one plenty. I haven't come up with an answer as of yet.

What is a "citizen in good standing"? Someone who does what they are supposed to and maintains minimal contact with law enforcement. I am one.

[Roger Dat]

You have a woman who tells you she does NOT remember what happened but you are very quick to JUMP to the conclusion that the police mishandled and were aggressive with her. Your parents ever tell you what happens when you assume?:uhoh:

Not to mention I dont know her but just because she was a former professor doesnt mean shes a good person. Obamas buddy comes to mind.

[jennbeez]

Obama has buddies? Not that I've noticed. It seems to me that everyone is out to get him. Including the democrats.

The sheriff's dept. cleared the situation up. They sent someone out to the lobby to speak with me. There was a report filed but her name was mispelled. That's why it couldn't be located before.

Apparently, the deputies were responding to a cell phone call from someone who noticed her driving. The deputy who stopped her is going to visit with her today to check up on her.

I don't think of it as jumping to conclusions so much as trying to sort out the facts. Remember, I didn't actually see her until she'd been in the hospital for 24 hours. I'm sure she was more stabilized by the time I saw her compared to what the deputy was dealing with.

So what started out as a possible rogue cop cuffing old ladies ended up quite different once the other side was known, eh? They say there are three sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth. It sounds like the guy did a good job. Took her to where she needed to be, dropped her vehicle off where it could be found, and even secured her keys in her purse.

I respect the job you are doing and appreciate your help and info here. Be careful while you're doing your jobs today. Who knows, I may write that Letter to the Editor after all. :uhoh:

[Roger Dat]

I appreciate the fact that you followed up and got the real story.