NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Two officers in Connecticut have been placed on paid leave after a man was seriously injured in the back of a police van and dragged around the police station before being taken to a hospital with signs of paralysis, authorities said.
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New Haven Assistant Police Chief Karl Jacobson said at a news conference Tuesday evening that Officer Oscar Diaz did not follow a department policy that requires officers to call for medical assistance and wait for paramedics when someone is in distress in a police vehicle.
NEW VIDEO: New Haven PD arrested 36 year-old Richard Cox Sunday and had him in the back of this cruiser but transferred him to a prisoner transport van inside of which he was severely injured during an abrupt stop. An update on the investigation and his condition. @FOX61News pic.twitter.com/WVXPcuJPSb
— Tony Terzi (@T2Fox61) June 21, 2022
“This is a horrible thing that happened to this young man, and we’re going to do everything possible so it doesn’t happen again,” Jacobson said.
City police on Tuesday also released videos of their handling of Richard Cox and said state police were called in to investigate.
Cox, 36, of New Haven, was arrested on a gun charge Sunday. He was being treated at a hospital and there was a chance he could be permanently paralyzed, Mayor Justin Elicker said.
While handcuffed in the back of the van, Cox flew headfirst into a wall when Diaz braked hard to avoid an accident, police said. A camera recorded the moments when Cox was injured. There were no seat belts in the back of the van.
Diaz then resumed driving to the police department despite Cox calling for help and saying he was injured and couldn’t move, according to the video and officials. A few minutes later, Diaz stopped the van to check on Cox, who was lying motionless on the floor.
Diaz then called paramedics, but told them to meet him at the station instead of waiting for them, Jacobson said.
At the station, officers dragged Cox out of the van by his feet and put him in a wheelchair, video shows. Police then booked Cox, took him out of the wheelchair and dragged him into a cell, where he was left on the floor, video shows.
Paramedics arrived minutes later and took Cox to a hospital, officials said.
Elicker said Tuesday evening that he found the officers’ action, and inaction, “quite concerning.”
“Once the handcuffs go on, you’re then in the care of the New Haven Police Department and there’s an obligation to treat every individual in a manner that ensures their safety and well-being,” he said. “Some of the actions taken by the officers, in my personal judgment, fall short of that.”
Diaz and Sgt. Betsy Segui, who works in the department’s detention area, were placed on paid leave pending an investigation. Three other officers have been transferred out of the detention area, officials said. Officers are heard on videos telling Cox at various points to stand up or move, but he could not.
Messages seeking comment were sent to Diaz, Segui and the local police union.
Lawyers Lou Rubano and R.J. Weber III said in a statement that they are representing Cox and questioned police officers’ handling of him.
“We are praying for Mr. Cox’s well-being. He has a long and painful recovery ahead of him. His family is united and by his side,” they said.
In President Donald Trump’s speech Friday afternoon detailing his plan to fight back against MS-13 gang violence, he implored law enforcement, “Please, don’t be too nice,” to the people they are arresting.
Trump outlined a scenario in which a police officer would be careful not to harm a person they are arresting and instructed officers not to worry about that, saying:
“When you guys put somebody in the car and you’re protecting their head, you know, the way you put their hand over, like, don’t hit their head and they’ve just killed somebody. Don’t hit their head. I said, you can take the hand away, okay?”
There was a pause after Trump’s delivery, and then the officers behind him began to clap and cheer. The clip drew swift condemnation online, as it seemed to portray Trump advocating for reckless treatment by police of those they are arresting — and policy enthusiastically supporting the idea.
Doesn’t seem like the intended to hurt him. They didn’t respond to his medical distress but they aren’t paramedics. People probably fake illness or injury all the time when arrested. It needs to be investigated with an open mind that the officers simply made a mistake.
No no no. This doesn’t fit the narrative! All cops and first responders are HEROS!!! No cop can do anything wrong. We must respect and idolize these saints. Especially if they wear a yarlmuka and show up to every event in Brooklyn.
You will recall that a “rough ride” was how the Baltimore police killed Freddie Gray.
Quit the police forces across the country . Let the demonrats stink in their own sewers.