Police Dump Paralyzed Man Out of Wheelchair

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A Florida man, who was left a quadriplegic after an injury years ago, went to jail last month for a traffic violation. During the booking process, he say officers humiliated and abused him.  <b style=
Published: Tue, February 12, 2008 - 2:28 pm
Last Updated: Tue, February 12, 2008 - 3:28 pm
A deputy at the Orient Road Jail in Hillsborough County Florida was caught on tape dumping a quadriplegic man out of his wheelchair.
Brian Sterner broke his neck 14 years ago, and is paralyzed from the chest down. Last month, he was brought to the jail on a traffic violation. Despite being paralyzed, Sterner can still operate a vehicle. Sterner says a female deputy didn't believe he was quadriplegic. The deputy proceeds to walk behind the hospital-grade wheelchair, grab the handles and dumped Sterner straight forward out and on to the floor. Sterner says he tried to roll as he was going down but he felt like he might have been severely injured. Deputies frisked him while he was on the ground, and then tried to jerk him back up into his chair. Sterner tried to tell deputies the best way to put him back in the chair, but they showed little regard for his well-being. Because he has no sensation from the chest down, Sterner didn't know that his ribs were actually broken. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department had no idea about the incident until a reporter from a Tampa TV Station showed them their own video footage. According to jail officials, no written report was issued because as they say there was no problem with no cause a problem to any inmate in a wheelchair. An investigation is currently underway. "It's incredibly degrading," Sterner says, "It's an example of how poorly trained the Hillborough County Sheriff's Office is."

Some police officers, go into law inforcement to make a difference because they don’t know any better.  It would take a dumb brute to risk their lives for $30,000 a year.  they do it for a power trip.  A lot of officers work part time at the waffle house security guards etc. to make up the difference in pay.  It is often a power trip for them.  Not all of them but most, figure I aint nobody, I will go into law enforcement and shove some folks around.  They won’t believe you when you defend yourself. I’m a police officer.

Posted by sweetnsour on 02/18/08 - 2:52 am • Report Abuse.   

May I ask why this man was even arrested?  For a “minor traffic violation,” is what the article said.  What, they don’t just issue traffic tickets, anymore?  Nowadays, it seems that with “minor traffic violations,” citizens are being handcuffed with their hands behind their back, tazered, strip-searched, or, as in this case, handicapped people are being dumped out on the floor and getting their ribs broken or suffering other brutality. Other cops are busy battering down the wrong doors and wrecking innocent people’s homes.  I tell you what, we pay for cops with our tax money and what they are for is stopping real criminals...they are not being paid to beat up 14-year-old skateboarders, taze speeders on the highway, or brutalize people in wheelchairs.  I personally vote down every proposition for giving more money to the police or hiring new officers and I suggest others do the same.  We have too many cops, anyway, who work AGAINST the citizens, not helping them.

Posted by thomasdosborneii on 02/18/08 - 2:26 am • Report Abuse.   

Cowards, ignorant cowards and the jerk that was walking by laughing should take a few lessons in humility as well.
Cops are becoming sorrier and sorrier. They have become the very slime they were put in place to stop.

Posted by serpiente on 02/17/08 - 9:33 pm • Report Abuse.   

This Woman should be FIRED. The woman standing beside her who acts as if it’s not a big deal at all should also be FIRED!
The other people in the back ground should be suspended and taught how to handle situations of abuse.. And the clown who walks by laughing should be forced to volunteer at a hospital for people with disabilities. That way he can gain a little respect and maybe just a bit of compassion:o( What a joke and waste of taxpayers money....

Posted by sunshinetonya on 02/17/08 - 7:29 pm • Report Abuse.   

I think that the officer that dumped the young man should be fired, along with the other officers that just stood there and laughed and the others that just walked by. If it would of been a white cop doing that to a young black man they would burned the building down. everyone shpuld be treated equally no matter there color,gender,looks , or anything else, it is pathetic, that people always go to racism. That crap has been over for years and years, noone here now has been a slave.

Posted by ddlove on 02/14/08 - 3:20 pm • Report Abuse.   

If this had been a couple of white cops dumping an African American out of his wheel chair, there would be rioting in the streets, Jesse and Sharpton would have to be down there orchestrating marches, not to mention that the officers both would be fired immediatly! AH, reverse discrimination at it’s best!

Posted by preppyboyofIL on 02/14/08 - 2:11 pm • Report Abuse.   

Racism at its best! Of course, that topic NEVER is discussed when its black on white! There’s NO EDUCATING this person! Pathetic attempt to cover this blatant act of hatred and disrespect! I hope one-day someone comes to the rescue for the disabled but it’s doubtful. This horrible story will be laughed at and forgotten very soon as the media doesn’t really care, either!

Posted by bam4action on 02/14/08 - 1:50 am • Report Abuse.   

AMEN to sarcon!

Posted by cmb1 on 02/13/08 - 3:30 pm • Report Abuse.   

Now if this was a black man being dumped from the wheelchair by a white person, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton would have been the first ones on the scene. Where are they now? Bad things happen to all sorts of people, so don’t think any one group is being singled out. All people deserve to be treated fairly!

Posted by rer on 02/13/08 - 1:41 pm • Report Abuse.   

Talk about sick, with the qualified personnel that need a job. Both of those employees should be terminated.  The young man should be compensated for his injuries and the fact that he has been splashed all over the media for their negligence.  Shame on them.

GHamilton

Posted by ghamilton on 02/13/08 - 11:41 am • Report Abuse.   

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