Man In Hosptial Bed Tasered To Force Urine Test

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Man In Hosptial Bed Tasered To Force Urine Test

3-10-5

 

 

ORLANDO, FL (AP) -- 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.

 

 

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