Thread: Suit claims jail, police failed to prevent suicide

Suit claims jail, police failed to prevent suicide
By MONICA RHOR Associated Press Writer © 2008 The Associated Press
Aug. 13, 2008, 1:20PM
Comments Recommend Share Print Email Del.icio.usDiggTechnoratiYahoo! BuzzHOUSTON — Between the time Arturo Chavez was arrested for driving without a license and the day he was found hanging in his cell at the Galveston County Jail, the 17-year-old undocumented immigrant had grown increasingly despondent about the prospect of being deported to Guatemala.

But, in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court, Chavez's family alleges that jail officials took no measures to protect the troubled teenager or to prevent the suicide. Instead, they say, Chavez was placed in solitary confinement, with infrequent checks by jail officials.

The lawsuit also claims League City police officers used excessive force after arresting the 5-foot-3, 125-pound Chavez on Aug. 1. According to police, Chavez tried to escape by running from the police station and into the parking lot.

The lawsuit claims at least four officers surrounded Chavez, who clung to a chain-link fence, struck him repeatedly with a baton and tased him in the back. No officer reported any injuries and Chavez was not charged with assault, said Randall Kallinen, the attorney representing Chavez's family.

Calls to League City Police Department and the Galveston County Sheriff's Department, which oversees the jail, were not immediately returned. Galveston County Sheriff Gean Leonard is also named in the suit.

After Chavez was arrested, he was taken to a nearby hospital then transferred to the Galveston County Jail, where officials were warned of Chavez's declining mental state, the lawsuit says. As an undocumented immigrant, Chavez faced deportation back to his native Guatemala.

On Aug. 4, Chavez was found hanging from a jail-issued blanket tied to an overhead shower nozzle, Kallinen said.

"The Galveston County Jail lacked the proper procedure that a very suicidal person needed, especially a minor who is more susceptible to suicide," said Kallinen.

Chavez, who came from Guatemala about four years ago, was a student at Clear Creek High School in League City and worked at Dos Mas Mexican Restaurant. He lived with an older brother and uncle, and every week sent $150 to his parents in Guatemala, Kallinen said.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Chavez's family in the U.S. District Court in Galveston, seeks more than $75,000 in damages, changes to jail practices and policies to prevent suicides, and policies regulating the use of Tasers and batons by League City police.


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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5941544.html

He hung himself. His choice.

Yeah Shure......

How can anyone blame a Sucidie on anyone but the person doing it??

What Happened to Personal Accountablity in this country!!!!!!!!!!

I hope that the county counter sues for everything that they got!!!

17-year-old undocumented immigrant

Chavez, who came from Guatemala about four years ago, was a student at Clear Creek High School in League City and worked at Dos Mas Mexican Restaurant He lived with an older brother and uncle, and every week sent $150 to his parents in Guatemala, Kallinen said.

Labor laws have been broken by this resturant IF he was 13 when he arrived and sent that much money home per week. Maybe they should check to see what social service programs he was receiving and make sure the stop paying it upon his death.

They are suing for 500 weeks worth of support for parents.

In one breath it's don't you dare tell me what to do because I have my rights.....and in another it's our job to save them from themselves. Sorry. Doesn't work that way.

especially a minor who is more susceptible to suicide,"

Like the minor more susceptable to rape, unwanted pregnancies, acts of violence because they aren't mature enough to handle things. But don't you dare us what to do it's our "culture"?

ICE should visit his employer and his Uncle