"Strip search:

tomahawk

February 06, 2008 16:38

her removing her clothes of her own accord under female guard,deloused showered and given appropriate jail attire would be acceptable. not what i seen. they have stun guns, use them if they become unruly.... i'm going to bed, nice talkin with you feller, i'll respond tomorrow if need be[;)]

0

w3500

February 06, 2008 16:43

Still no comments from LE, what would do if told to take aways personal guns. Would you do it, so we will know what type of person you really are.

0

gskyhawk

February 06, 2008 16:44

the woman called police because her cousin had injured her. The police arrived and arrested the caller. The second video shows the police filming the lady being taken through the police station. The police claimed they did not film that. The family claims she was never asked to undress. They just stripped her as shown. Regulations, according to the local police manual, said all stripping had to be done by same sex people.

0

JamesRK

February 06, 2008 16:44

quote:Originally posted by tomahawk
her removing her clothes of her own accord under female guard,deloused showered and given appropriate jail attire would be acceptable. not what i seen. they have stun guns, use them if they become unruly.... i'm going to bed, nice talkin with you feller, i'll respond tomorrow if need be[;)]

We don't know for sure what happened in this incident, but generally speaking, the refusal of option one is what causes the use of option two.

0

bhale187

February 06, 2008 16:54

quote:Originally posted by w3500
Still no comments from LE, what would do if told to take aways personal guns. Would you do it, so we will know what type of person you really are.

I think you'll find that the officers on these forums have seen plenty of antagonist posters like yourself in the past, and are smart enough to ingnore them.

0

mateomasfeo

February 06, 2008 16:57

I am in jails all the time and have never witnessed anything like that.

Guess I don't get out much.

If she was thrown down and strip searched like that without good cause I have nothing but disdain for these "officers." However, if as JAMES keeps trying to say, there is more to the story, I could see a possible scenario where something like that could be justifiable.

But it would have to be extreme...

0

JamesRK

February 06, 2008 16:58

quote:Originally posted by gskyhawk
the woman called police because her cousin had injured her. The police arrived and arrested the caller. The second video shows the police filming the lady being taken through the police station. The police claimed they did not film that. The family claims she was never asked to undress. They just stripped her as shown. Regulations, according to the local police manual, said all stripping had to be done by same sex people.

She didn't call the police, her second cousin did. The police arrived and arrested the person who gave him bogus identification and according to him was disorderly. The part you saw in the second video was not the part the sheriff said wasn't videoed. The part you saw was what the sheriff turned over, otherwise you wouldn't have seen it. The family had the same number of representatives present that I had. None of us know if she refused to strip for search. That is the question. Unless the sheriff is a total idiot, he has something in his written policy about handling disorderly inmates. I'm not ready to make the call, but so far I don't see any misconduct from the officers.

0

JamesRK

February 06, 2008 17:02

quote:Originally posted by mateomasfeo
I am in jails all the time and have never witnessed anything like that.

Guess I don't get out much.

If she was thrown down and strip searched like that without good cause I have nothing but disdain for these "officers." However, if as JAMES keeps trying to say, there is more to the story, I could see a possible scenario where something like that could be justifiable.

But it would have to be extreme...

All the justification required is for her to say she won't be searched. Then the two female officers try to search her and can't get it done. At that point, they are justified in using all the force necessary to accomplish the search.

0

mateomasfeo

February 06, 2008 17:14

quote:Originally posted by JamesRK

All the justification required is for her to say she won't be searched.

I will never accept that. If two females can't get it done, hire three or put up a going out of business sign.

Better yet, lock her cell door and watch her to prevent her harming herself till she calms down or until more female officers arrive to assist.

In other words, use your freakin' brain.

I bet they broke policy.

0

tomahawk

February 06, 2008 17:16

and then leave her naked for 5 or 6 hours, bullcrap, i'd sue their azzez off. and if i was a lawyer ,i'd trial that case, thats forcible rape, a felony, and when charged i hope the same treatment for those officers[:(!]

0

dolfan

February 06, 2008 17:30

quote:Originally posted by JamesRK
The police arrived and arrested the person who gave him bogus identification and according to him was disorderly.
Let's not generalize about jailhouse procedures and stick to this incident. The "bogus" ID was a driver's license that belonged to the strip search victim's DECEASED sister. She kept the license as a momento of her sister. Only after she asked for it back and the cop REFUSED did she get disorderly.

Also, she was a victim of a beating. The 9-11 caller mentioned a cut on the head w/bleeding and a clump of hair on the floor.

I don't know about y'all but if you were hit upside the head and got your hair pulled out of your scalp...you'd be disorientated to say the least.
quote:The part you saw was what the sheriff turned over, otherwise you wouldn't have seen it. James, the tape is evidence. It is used to "protect" the cops from false accusations and also to protect the civilian. Once a subpoena is issued by an atty requesting the tape...it must be released. If the cops destroy it...they COMMIT a crime...destruction of evidence, tampering w/evidence, official misconduct, etc.

quote:None of us know if she refused to strip for search.

Not true...she had no choice...as soon as she answered the "got any weapons, sharp objects" question with "now or here?"...she was pounced on and thrown to the ground. The tape is clear about that.
Of course she resisted. Wouldn't any woman resist if strange men are tearing off her clothes...that was tatamount to rape, IMO.

quote:I but so far I don't see any misconduct from the officers.
[/quote] In all due respect...she was being detained for questioning only. She was not a criminal.

How would you feel if that was YOUR wife...YOUR daughter?
Would you be so quick to defend the cops' actions then?

This is America...last I checked. Yes, cops have a tuff job...but they must follow the law. They are not above it...no one is.

Anyway you slice, this poor woman is probably mentally scarred for life. Rape victims suffer great emotional distress for the rest of their lives. That's why it's such a dispicable act. This lady will forever be changed...emotionally by this tramatic act against her person.

That is a shame. Worst is seeing so many here defend the actions of the cops. Again, this lady was a victim of a beating/assualt. She did not deserve this treatment.

ETA: Sorry...somehow mess up the quote feature.

0

wsfiredude

February 06, 2008 17:33

dolfan,

+1

0

JamesRK

February 06, 2008 19:07

I did a Google. There is a gang of articles about this, but almost all of them are verbatim transcripts of the WKYC TV Channel 3 News story. This one is a little different. Still none of the "other side of the story". The end of this article tells us She was found guilty of the disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges by a jury on June 8, 2007. Her alleged assailant was not charged. None of the articles actually say in plain English, but it appears the altercation happened at one of her cousin's home.

I wonder if alcohol was involved.

strip-searched article
Stark County sheriff, deputies, commissioners named in lawsuit by woman strip-searched

By NANCY WHITAKER
The Review

A jury trial is demanded in the case of a Salem woman who says she was strip-searched and left naked, wrapped only in toilet paper, in a Stark County jail cell for six hours, according to one of her attorneys.

The civil rights lawsuit was filed on behalf of Hope Steffey on Oct. 19 in the Akron office of the Ohio Northern District Court. Judge David D. Dowd Jr. will hear the case.

On Tuesday, attorney David B. Malik, of Chesterland, said a trial date hasn't been set, but he expects the case to be completed in 2008. According to Malik, the lawsuit was amended about a month after it was filed in federal court, but "all the facts are the same." Malik declined to discuss the lawsuit. Dennis J. Niermann, of Cleveland, is the other attorney representing Steffey.

Named as defendants are Stark County Sheriff Timothy A. Swanson; Stark County commissioners Todd Bosley, Tom Harmon and Jane Vignos; and Stark County Sheriff's Deputy Richard T. Gurlea Jr. In addition, one to 15 other "John and Jane Does" (deputies, jail employees, staff and other persons) who "acted willfully, wantonly and recklessly and whose names and addresses are undiscoverable at this time" are also defendants.

Swanson also has declined to discuss the case, issuing a statement, saying, "The sheriff's office has investigated the incident regarding Hope Steffey. We have answered all inquiries by her attorneys and we are prepared to proceed in a court of law, not in the media."

The complaint states that on Oct. 20, 2006, at approximately 7:54 p.m., Steffey was assaulted by another woman on Weimer Drive Southeast in Paris Township.

Gurlea, who was dispatched to the scene, questioned Steffey, asking for her identification, but she mistakenly gave the officer her deceased sister's driver's license, which, the suit states, Steffey had been keeping as a personal memento of her sister.

When Steffey "immediately noticed her mistake" she asked Gurlea to return her sister's license, but Gurlea refused. Steffey explained why she had the license and "begged" Gurlea for the return of her sister's license, but he still refused, according to the suit.

Steffey gave Gurlea her driver's license and while he ran a computer check, Steffey's cousin, Trinette Zorger, noticed a bald spot on Steffey's head where her hair had been pulled out by the woman who allegedly assaulted Steffey.

Steffey become visibly upset, but, according to the suit, Gurlea warned her to "calm down." Steffey said that she "was upset and could exercise her freedom of speech," the suit said. Zorger tried to remind Gurlea that Steffey was the victim, that she had been knocked unconscious by another woman and that Steffey was acting "uncharacteristically loud and upset."

Gurlea still refused to acknowledge Steffey's injuries or call for medical help, the lawsuit states.

Steffey again asked for her sister's license back. According to information in the suit, Gurlea turned and angrily responded "Shut up about your dead sister." Steffey pointed her finger at her sister's license, which was in Gurlea's shirt pocket, and said, "She was here, she was someone."

"Gurlea suddenly exploded into a rage, and, without provocation, turned toward Steffey and physically slammed her face into his cruiser, breaking one of her teeth." He then pinned Steffey against his cruiser with his pelvic area and asked, "Are you going to stop?" Gurlea twisted Steffey's arm high up behind her back, causing her to react in pain.

The deputy then picked Steffey up off the ground and slammed her, face-first, into the dirt road, causing her nose to hit hard against the ground and causing cuts and bruises, according to the lawsuit.

Steffey's chest and lungs were jammed into the ground by the entire weight of Gurlea's body and knees, and blood began streaming down her face and neck. With his knees in Steffey's back, Gurlea again asked Steffey, "Are you going to stop, are you going to be good?"

Seeing that Steffey couldn't breath, Zorger screamed at the deputy, "She can't breathe, let her go, you're hurting her," the suit states.

According to the suit, Steffey was handcuffed and told to sit in the back of the cruiser, and still no medical assistance was obtained for her.

At the Stark County Safety Building (jail), Steffey was taken into a room and told to face the wall where "approximately six deputies/guards/staff, some male, surrounded her in the small room," according to the suit.

Asked if she had any weapons or sharp objects, Steffey replied "no."

Told to stand on a line and face the front to answer a nurse's questions, Steffey was asked, "Have you thought of harming yourself?" According to the lawsuit, Steffey said, "Now or ever?"

At that point, Steffey's legs were knocked out from under her and her face was jammed hard into the floor. "No warning was given and no words were spoken by Steffey's assailants," the suit states.

Steffey's head was being held into the ground by someone who was grabbing her hair on the back of her head and a person's knees were in her back. Hands were on each side of Steffey's head holding her down.

According to the suit, Steffey then realized her pants and underwear were being "violently stripped from her body, without warning." Her limbs were being grabbed while her head was being held down.

The suit states that Steffey was carried into a cell where she was flopped on the ground totally naked and where she was left naked for six hours without even a blanket to cover herself. Steffey wrapped herself in toilet paper to prevent anyone from seeing her naked.

Written authorization for the strip search of Hope Steffey was never obtained by anyone at the sheriff's office, the suit points out.

"Steffey was not permitted access to a telephone, nor was she booked for six hours. Reasonable medical attention was withheld for more than six hours," according to the lawsuit, which also states, "Steffey repeatedly called out for help. No one provided her clothing.

"She was told by a guard she was being charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct."

The suit seeks compensatory and consequential damages for all injuries, punitive damages to be determined at trial for the "willful, callous and malicious conduct of Gurlea, attorneys' fees and the cost of this action, and any other relief the court determines."

Steffey, who had a jury trial in Alliance Municipal Court, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

She was found guilty of the disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges on June 8, 2007.

She was fined $250 and costs and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with all those days suspended on condition of Steffey's good behavior for one year.

She was also ordered to undergo counseling, according to court records.

No court or jail records were found for the woman who allegedly assaulted Steffey in October 2006.

0

JamesRK

February 06, 2008 19:10

dano, we've had them risk their lives with necked 110v electric wires so they could toss boiling water into an officer's face.

0

JamesRK

February 06, 2008 19:40

quote:Originally posted by JamesRK
The part you saw was what the sheriff turned over, otherwise you wouldn't have seen it.
quote:Originally posted by dolfan
James, the tape is evidence. It is used to "protect" the cops from false accusations and also to protect the civilian. Once a subpoena is issued by an atty requesting the tape...it must be released. If the cops destroy it...they COMMIT a crime...destruction of evidence, tampering w/evidence, official misconduct, etc..
gskyhawk said "The second video shows the police filming the lady being taken through the police station. The police claimed they did not film that."

All I said is that isn't the tape of what the sheriff said wasn`t taped. If it were you wouldn't have seen it.
quote:Originally posted by JamesRK
None of us know if she refused to strip for search.
quote:Originally posted by dolfan
[Not true...she had no choice...as soon as she answered the "got any weapons, sharp objects" question with "now or here?"...she was pounced on and thrown to the ground. The tape is clear about that.
Of course she resisted. Wouldn't any woman resist if strange men are tearing off her clothes...that was tatamount to rape, IMO.
Not true...That's what she told WKYC TV Channel 3 News, and that's what WKYC TV Channel 3 News told us. Watch it again:

http://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=53707&bw=

0

joker5656

February 06, 2008 20:19

WOW!!! so lets see she gives them the WRONG I.D. but she has hers. MMMMM..... So the cops were lazy and didn't want to do a quick background check and see if they where related and also they didn't want to run her and compare it to her I.D.? this police dept. is SCREWED. Lawyers will have a field day with this one. really shows you mistakes don't just happen but aren't mistakes at all at times. Wounder who video recorded this and how it was released?

0

JamesRK

February 06, 2008 20:30

quote:Originally posted by joker5656
Wounder who video recorded this and how it was released?

The video was made by the Sheriff's Department. The Sheriff turned it over to her lawyers. Presumably the lawyers turned it over to the TV Station.

Corrections officers routinely video all use of force because it usually winds up in court.

0

Laredo Lefty

February 06, 2008 20:49

Iam with Alpine and Dano on this one. Having 30 yrs in law enforcement I too have taken a lot of combative, drunk A holes to the slammer.

Jails are not pretty places. They are full of angry, intoxicated, combative people. We dont know the entire story behind what happend before this gal got to jail.

If the female jail staff could not handle this gal then the only back-up is the male staff. Normally, males are not present during female strip searches, but in an emergency, you must deal with it.

dolfan.......... Rape??....... Not even close

I have been attacked by prisoners, challenged by them, cursed by them, and even had a few thank me for arresting them and turning their lives around.

I saw nothing wrong in the video other than the males being present, which was necessary under the circumstances.

There is no nice way to arrest a combative, intoxicated suspect. The public wants the police to be their bodyguards, hired fists and hired guns. They want us to keep the bad guys out of their businesses, cars, and out of their faces. They want us to take care of the problem, but then get upset or offended when they see how its done.

0

joker5656

February 06, 2008 21:06

quote:Originally posted by Laredo Lefty
Iam with Alpine and Dano on this one. Having 30 yrs in law enforcement I too have taken a lot of combative, drunk A holes to the slammer.

Jails are not pretty places. They are full of angry, intoxicated, combative people. We dont know the entire story behind what happend before this gal got to jail.

If the female jail staff could not handle this gal then the only back-up is the male staff. Normally, males are not present during female strip searches, but in an emergency, you must deal with it.

dolfan.......... Rape??....... Not even close

I have been attacked by prisoners, challenged by them, cursed by them, and even had a few thank me for arresting them and turning their lives around.

I saw nothing wrong in the video other than the males being present, which was necessary under the circumstances.

There is no nice way to arrest a combative, intoxicated suspect. The public wants the police to be their bodyguards, hired fists and hired guns. They want us to keep the bad guys out of their businesses, cars, and out of their faces. They want us to take care of the problem, but then get upset or offended when they see how its done.

she was a victim of an altercation and even IDENTIFIED AS THE VICTOM. they took her to the jail for showing the wrong drivers license. a quick background check would of proved who she was, especially if she had her I.D. and they could do a quick cross reference. All she did was had the wrong I.D. to the cop then she was talkin downtown. Now if you call that justified then you sir are a tool. I would be mad if i was takin downtown too, and i sure as hell would be giving them a hard-time too. this is what is wrong with police departments today, absolutely no investigating before taking people to jail. Could of saved some time for everyone and tax payer money. I'm sure she will get millions from the Tax payers.

0

Laredo Lefty

February 06, 2008 21:14

As petty as it may seem to you, it is illegal to provide false information or identification to the police.

I have been involved in situations where we arrested the "victim" on a call. If a drunk gets beat up and robbed, he's still a drunk and needs to be taken to jail to be sobered up.

0

leftytwoguns

February 06, 2008 22:30

Reckless driving- I had to the lift my sack and spread my cheeks for a one night visit. Why shouldn't she? Even if she didn't want to? I don't think its optional.

0

JamesRK

February 06, 2008 23:17

quote:Originally posted by joker5656
she was a victim of an altercation and even IDENTIFIED AS THE VICTOM. they took her to the jail for showing the wrong drivers license. a quick background check would of proved who she was, especially if she had her I.D. and they could do a quick cross reference. All she did was had the wrong I.D. to the cop then she was talkin downtown. Now if you call that justified then you sir are a tool. I would be mad if i was takin downtown too, and i sure as hell would be giving them a hard-time too. this is what is wrong with police departments today, absolutely no investigating before taking people to jail. Could of saved some time for everyone and tax payer money. I'm sure she will get millions from the Tax payers.

Not according to the court records. "Steffey, who had a jury trial in Alliance Municipal Court, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

She was found guilty of the disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges on June 8, 2007.

She was fined $250 and costs and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with all those days suspended on condition of Steffey's good behavior for one year.

She was also ordered to undergo counseling, according to court records.

No court or jail records were found for the woman who allegedly assaulted Steffey in October 2006."

She will have another jury in the upcoming trial. That is when the Sheriff will present his side of the story. In the meantime all we know is what Hope Steffey and her lawyers tell us and the video.

According to her own version of events, she was at her cousin's home when she had an altercation with another cousin. she presented a bogus ID and "leaned on the officer".

If the jury thinks she was treated as unrighteously as she alleges, she will be a rich woman. I'm not ready to make the call on the information we have. I'll wait for the jury.

0

minitruck83

February 07, 2008 00:47

And as usual the "wall of blue" comes up! Surrounding and protecting a "brother" in distress! Automatically defending police actions is as asinine as automatically assuming that police are at fault!

Can any current or former police officer out there honestly say that he or she hasn't ran across a totally useless,overbearing,and/or dangerous officer during their careers??????? Guess what? The public sees them also and associates you with them! (ya know you all look alike all bluey and dominating [}:)]) If you aren't thrilled by that.Then clean up your ranks! You know who they are far better than we do!

A lot of us were brought up to respect police officers but it's getting hard to do when you defend the actions of any and all who wear the uniform! We don't expect you to be perfect. But we do expect you to at least try to be professional! And to demand that same professionalism from those around you!

Were the vid's released to the media to taint the jury pool?
Who would benefit most from the release?
Defendant?
Plaintiff?
I guess you would have to live locally to know if the judicial system there is a "kangaroo" style that automatically assumes that if you weren't guilty you wouldn't have been arrested in the first place or not. (Yes they do exist)

Allen

0

farmplinker

February 07, 2008 03:19

OK, let's say for a second I can buy the need to strip-search her. Let's also say I can buy the need to call in male guards/deputies/cops/whatever to get the job done. Let's say LE was justified in that.

What justification is there to leave her in a cell for 6 hours with no clothing or blanket? Is it standard jailhouse procedure to leave someone cold and naked in a cell for hours? Sounds like physical and mental abuse to me.

That part of the story will tend to sway a jury toward the woman, even if LE is given the benefit of the doubt about the rest.

0

Blade Slinger

February 07, 2008 03:19

If that woman was in my family I would be getting myself into a prison real soon, real soon.[:(!]

This sort of thing happened to me and a female in canada, borrowed car of her younger brother, they found a roach in the backseat ash tray, stripped searched everybody in the car.Havent been out of the country since, left a horrible mark on the woman.

0

Blade Slinger

February 07, 2008 03:20

woops

0

gskyhawk

February 07, 2008 03:37

JamesRK writes
dano, we've had them risk their lives with necked 110v electric wires so they could toss boiling water into an officer's face.

if some one is in jail how in the hell would they get ahold of electric wires and boiling water ?

and this sure in the hell has nothing to do with this woman who was all ready cuffed

0

spanielsells

February 07, 2008 03:41

quote:Originally posted by Alpine
If it were possible I wish every person that is about to graduate from high school would be required to tour a jail. Most of you people have no clue as to how things work in a jail. You only know how some things outta work in a perfect world that exists in your mind.

The tour would be a real eye opener!
I did a jail tour in high school. Dade County (Miami) Jail. While I was never in trouble with the law beforehand, I can tell you that I never wanted to see the inside of a jail ever again.

0

p3skyking

February 07, 2008 03:44

quote:Originally posted by Alpine
That treatment is what happens every day, in every jail, everywhere in the USA.

You don't get out much, do ya?

If this happens every day, in every jail, then perhaps the whole system is rotten. Does it seem cops have a "gang" mentality? They all shoot 30-80 times killing a trained police dog (gangbangers?), and now this. I wonder how many got a woodie? Rapes' not about the sex right, just the power. [xx(]

0

spanielsells

February 07, 2008 03:52

Are you telling me that they couldn't even get this woman a hospital gown or a blanket to allow her to cover up? REALLY?

Look. I realize that jail is a dangerous place. I understand the need to check prisoners for weapons and drugs.

If my wife was forceably stripped by males, she would do EVERYTHING in her power to resist.

If my wife was left naked in a jail cell for hours on end without even a hospital gown, blanket, sheet or towel to cover her, you bet your ass I'd sue everyone I could think of... and it wouldn't matter if my wife was "guilty" or not.

She was arrested. She wasn't convicted of anything. I still think that in this country, we are innocent until proven guilty. You want to "teach" a prisoner a "lesson"? Fine, do that to a convict.

I've come within inches of being wrongfully arrested twice in my life for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time while something else was happening. I can only imagine how pi$$ed off I'd be if I was arrested and then brutalized when I did nothing wrong.

0

"Strip search:

Comments

Recent Activity