Man Froze to Death in Police Custody

A lawsuit has been filed.
www.lehtoslaw.com

[@sneakyquick]

The officer who was fired for being a whistleblower has also filed a federal lawsuit.

[@red---paulvanravenswaay2247]

Praise God

[@douglashoward9616]

Yup. The murderers were not held accountable. Just the whistle blower. Who's lucky he wasn't murdered.

[@nlite10nd1]

WOW UNFUCKING BELIEVABLE THIS IS BEYOND CORRUPT THIS IS TORTURE AND MURDER NOW LETS SEE WHO GETS CHARGED WITH MURDER THIS WAS DONE INTENTIONALLY DEAR GOD PLEASE HELP US THIS HAS TO STOP!!!!!!!

[@erictaylor5462]

If you put someone in a walk-in freezer naked, that is not a mistake, that is murder. And an especially cruel murder to boot.

[@wattienewton5967]

Thanks that's being honest.

[@carriere888]

Hey theres the odd person stupid enough to do it does not mean they should be punished any less harshly as if your that stupid you should not be allowed around others

[@zoneonemusic]

It's amazing that this hasn't resulted in murder charges. At least, amazing in a sane world.

[@pisathongsonlone3935]

That's torture/murder

[@dr-rexmangrca113]

but you are not A AMERICAN POLICE

[@geoffstrickler]

Sounds like murder to me. Not manslaughter, not negligent homicide, but intentional homicide.

[@bpdmf2798]

I don't think you could pin murder 1 on the cops for this. It's nice to want the harshest punishment, but you gotta pick a charge that will stick or they get off scott free. I would guess that they can reasonably argue that their intentions weren't to have him die by placing him in the freezer, proving the intent is key. Murder 2 would be arguable seeing that they did it to him likely out of malice and in response to his actions, but not in the heat of the moment so to say. That's why I think it would more likely be murder 3 or negligent, they put him in the freezer recklessly to punish him and left him in too long or forgot about him. Those 2 circumstances are very easy to point out and why lesser charges are often sought on police, because of the very nature of their job, premeditation and/or heat of the moment stuff is harder to prove in court. It sucks, but that's just how stuff has to go sometimes.

[@LuckyCartel]

They will have to prove intent

[@geoffstrickler]

@@LuckyCartel I don’t think “we accidentally put him in the freezer and closed the door” is going to work.

[@LuckyCartel]

@@geoffstrickler that’s the obvious part🤭

[@anonnona8099]

@@bpdmf2798 > Those 2 circumstances are very easy to point out and why lesser > charges are often sought on police, because of the very nature > of their job, premeditation and/or heat of the moment stuff is > harder to prove in court. It sucks, but that's just how stuff has > to go sometimes. Or OTOH we could hold police officers to *MUCH* higher standards than ordinary people.

[@1954chevy3100]

Shouldn't the police be charged with murder? If I stuck someone in the freezer and they died, I would be charged with murder. Why shouldn't they?

[@knight0334]

Murder requires intent. Manslaughter is a killing regardless of intent, whether negligent or not. In many states, the penalty of manslaughter is just the same as 2nd degree murder. Death penalty is typically reserved for 1st degree murder, and occasionally 2nd degree if there are aggravating factors.

[@uzlonewolf]

@@knight0334 And the intent of tying someone up and putting them in a freezer for hours with little or no clothing on is...? Claiming this isn't murder is kinda like saying "sure I intentionally shot a guy, but him dying was an accident!" This was murder.

[@thomasdesmond2248]

The fact that the deputy was fired for bringing this to light. Is a major issue.

[@bourbonslurpee]

Whistle blowers always seem to get fired within government departments. Cant have that pesky truth being told.

[@WhoDatGuyJ]

Psychopaths have no empathy

[@user-nx5hq3gw4s]

Classic internal affairs investigation. This is what happens when you create a branch of government (law enforcement)that has no checks and balances.

[@Metqa]

That's why people say there are no "good cops" on the force, cuz the decent ones with a concious get fired for doing the right thing.

[@Chriscovelli1]

​@@WhoDatGuyJthat's amusing. Sociopaths have no empathy by definition. So technically this is an entire nation of sociopaths. One big gigantic cesspool of deception and selfishness.

[@ginobean737]

Intentionally putting a man into a freezer sounds like intent to commit murder, to me.

[@norshstephens2395]

In other words, 1st degree murder.

[@orangeswell1469]

*Zero degree murder

[@planetmezo1145]

Nonono, you see that's not been clearly established so it's actually fine as long as the person doing the locking is an officer

[@curtisa3069]

The city should be sued. The officers should be tried for premeditated murder.

[@losslessthoughts]

​@@orangeswell1469Life in an igloo without parole!

[@jamesrobison3]

Some deputies need to go to prison for a long time.

[@jringo45acp]

General Population. No protection for terrorists.

[@LetArtsLive]

Unfortunately they will probably get away with it

[@cjburian1]

If you're worried about a loved one, never, ever, ever call the police. Call for medical assistance.

[@wendysw714]

Even that is a risk nowadays. 😥

[@weenercatotto]

True that!! Even if there is no emergency, the emergency personnel will create one.

[@sunnyhawkadventures864]

The cops show up anyway

[@LuckyCartel]

@@sunnyhawkadventures864 They can’t come on your property without a crime… Private property

[@sunnyhawkadventures864]

@LuckyCartel They call it agency assist. My neighbors chicken coup had smoke coming from it and they blocked off the road and they were all over his property.

[@12799MaDeuce]

Let's call it what it is: another man murdered by law enforcement

[@andrewk8636]

That was beyond murder, it was torture

[@thatguy8005]

@@andrewk8636I was going to say the same thing. Shooting someone is quick. We don’t know how many people are tortured to death in the hands of the American governments.

[@nadine_ghc3465]

Lesson #1 - Don't call cops to do a welfare check unless you want the person killed.

[@ohsweetmystery]

👍 These terrible things have happened so many times, I agree 100%.

[@alvinmiller9038]

The family thought that jail would be the safest place for him. How ironic.

[@mrbob4u495]

Welfare checks tend to end up with someone dying. I have read too many stories where this has happened.

[@userac-xpg]

yep, remember this the next time police say they are taking anyone into custody for their own "safety"

[@channelview8854]

You sure got that right!

[@jamespattan5653]

The American crime syndicate must be brought to justice.

[@user-wf4hy4ub7p]

Did nobody tell you ?. There IS no justice in America, not while the police, courts and prisons are run for profit.

[@limeybean3967]

Yea Good luck with that

[@Texaslife98]

@@limeybean3967Right… this has been going on for hundreds of years

[@DavidJohnsonFromSeattle]

Why are we pretending like this is a mystery? The entire department should be sent to jail over this abuse of power.

[@user-gn8eb4ii9p]

Nobody pays attention or is reading your comments!

[@JonathanMandrake]

That is inhumane treatment on the level of torture. All involved should be charged with Murder or similar charges

[@jupitercyclops6521]

The way most incarcerated are treaded is inhumane. If gov treated dogs the same way, animal rights activists wouldn't stand for it

[@trainliker100]

It's worse. It's on the level of murder. Torture is typically designed so as NOT to kill the person.

[@wayneelliott3474]

100%

[@PromptCriticalJello]

Sometimes justice is not enough.

[@JonathanMandrake]

@@trainliker100 Yes, but depending on the level of torture, it can be worse. However, I don't think they intended to kill him, if that were the case there would have been better ways to do it. I think they wanted to hurt him and overdid it, but it should still be enough for homicide or a similar charge. I hope that in some way, either in life or in their afterlife, Karma will get to them

[@fadingfrost2617]

The lady who released the video is truly a person of integrity! I do hope that she gets rewarded 5x over for doing the right thing.

[@terry6559]

The whistle blower is definitely the unsung hero of this sad story.! They need to toss the current Sheriff into jail, and reinstate the sacked deputy as the new Sheriff..!!!

[@lesevans1479]

it was a female jailer -- the sheriff fired her for it in retaliation --- I think the county will be paying out big big money and a lot of jailers and cops will be going to jail themself in the end -- hire Ben Crump

[@rightsdontcomewithpermits7073]

I bet he turned a blind eye before. I guess it was a "red" line for him. Any one who works for, with thin blue line gang is just as bad as the gang they associate with.

[@trs-80fanclub12]

woman

[@Kya_the_camera_dog]

That's got to be some good karma

[@ryanwalsh5019]

Anyone who thinks police in the US don't need serious reform is living under a rock.

[@bethhorton7427]

I live here in Jasper, Walker County not even 3 blocks over from the jail. This is absolutely sickening. There have been so many cover ups here it's unbelievable. Yhe whistle-blower and her son have now been put in protective custody

[@RonSafreed]

Are you familiar about what went on in the town of Brookside, 40 miles northeast of Birmingham??It is like the whole town is suing the police department & local government & the police chief was fired (Mark Jones) & he was then arrested in Covington flashing his badge after a traffic stop for speeding & he was arrested for impersonating a police officer!! Things went on 3-4-5 years & now there is hell to pay in Brookside!! These crooked cops made several million dollars on trumpted up nonsense!!

[@Texaslife98]

@@RonSafreedThat’s beyond insane.. I swear sometimes I can’t believe my eyes with how nuts people can be 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@RonSafreed]

@@Texaslife98, it is the ever rising narcissism, socio-psychopathy in society & the decrease of folk who have real sympathy, empathy & compassion & respect for the law!!

[@pepper8892]

This kind of things have been going on in Walker county for decades and no one has ever been held accountable for them.

[@KenFullman]

Just how cold does it get there?

[@jasonpatterson8091]

The fact that this is a civil suit is deeply disturbing. This should have been criminal - it's clearly manslaughter at the least.

[@toriless]

It is Alabama, this is par.

[@jacobthompson1288]

It's a federal civil rights violation.. it's against LEO contract with government making them defendant aswell as their 'agent' the officers

[@benparks3564]

No way! That's straight up murder! Even a 7-year-old child knows that when someone is put in a freezer for that long they will freeze to death. I hope they face prison time.

[@edwardwood6532]

If this gets walked back to manslaughter, lots of people will be angry.

[@Orudaiken]

A man is frozen to death intentionally by officers. It's first degree murder, torture, and deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law. It's impossible to be anything else.

[@tjseagrove]

The one who reported it is a hero for revealing the truth. Hope their lawsuit is swift and effective.

[@litigioussociety4249]

He pretty much is risking his life by making enemies with the police, but his conscience must have told him he'd rather die than let this go unpunished.

[@waltstrait5807]

He should become the boss , why , he knows right from wrong!!!

[@unbreakable7633]

Chances of cops being held liable are slim. Qualified immunity.

[@novanogo07]

@@unbreakable7633 tough call. It literally sounds like murder.

[@nukepuke932]

His death will probably be.

[@cjbrags1344]

All of those officers need to be charged with murder and conspiracy, this is not ok

[@cptgone]

"Maricopa County, AZ (Sheriff Joe Arpaio) leaves woman in outdoor cage all day. 107 degree heat, pleas for water denied, she dies. District Attorney refuses to prosecute anyone."

[@robertboykin1828]

time to alert the feds bout all this, methinks.

[@American0001]

This is MURDER !!!

[@user-gn8eb4ii9p]

People aren't reading or responding to your comments

[@abc55052]

This sounds like sadistic murder. They made the guy naked in a bedless cell, no toilet, and ended up putting him in a freezer, killing him. These are sadistic murderers acting as the protectors of the innocent. My god things are upside down.

[@cementer7665]

I'll wager my meager fortune that the ENTIRE sheriff's department is made up of KKK members.

[@KiwiCatherineJemma]

If people kept a dog in a cell matching that description, then the SPCA (or other Animal Protection Humane society as may exist in various different jurisdictions) would have the owner charged with offences and up before a court. They'd likely have a ban on being allowed to own animals for the next 5 years or more. Here in New Zealand, although "SPCA" (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is an independent charity, it has been granted by law certain powers for their inspectors etc. Plus they can call on police backup if needed. They are also allowed to monitor farm animals and ensure that, whether on-farm or at an abattoir, when animals are killed, it is done quickly with minimum distress.

[@belac48621]

Sadly, if you have shown or admit to having mental health issues, this is standard. They strip you of all your cloths, and "usually" give you a velcro smock, just o cover up. One that absolutly doesn't keep you warm in any way. The cell is maybe a 6×6, no pad/mattress. Just a 2 inch elevated concreet slab. And the holes in the floor that is used as a toilet is automatically flushed 2x a day, maybe. How do I know this? I've been in one. I was in one of those rooms for 5 days before being seen by a mental health doctor who cleared me of being a "threat to my self" because in the past, I had admitted to being depressed and suicidal as part of the intake questions the jail asks. Also, I was in jail cause I missed a court date on a trafic violation. So I got a failure to appear, and was in jail 3 months waiting for my court date. PS. It says a lot about how the jails treat those with mental health problems worse than we would treat a dog

[@terryarmbruster9719]

This one is so obvious anyone argues against a murder with vileness or such charge is just being a goof. I'm for cops guards etc using some force to keep things in check but this clearly was straight out torture murder disrespect from very vile hateful sick people

[@Dan-yk6sy]

And no one will go to jail for the torture, murder, or the cover up. People will still put thin blue line gang stickers on their car. Cops will continue killing, torturing, and raping people until we decide to rise up, but I doubt that will ever happen since the same 2a supporters support the psychopaths in LEO.

[@bsdetector837]

They get fired for ratting out corrupt cops, no wonder there’s so many “bad apples”, they kick all the good ones out..

[@Metqa]

The entire tree is poison. The apples, the branches, the leaves, the trunk, the very soil it is growing in. Any one grafted onto that twisted tree trunk becomes just as poisonous as the rest of the tree. They make sure of that in training. Any fruit seen to be non-poisonous is trimmed, culled and composted, just like the officer that showed the truth of how poisnous his own branch was.

[@stonynotdusty]

Those jail officers should be locked up in their own jail!

[@user-gn8eb4ii9p]

Nobody cares to read or respond to your comments!

[@JJJJspam]

This is beyond murder and rises to torture and other crimes against humanity. We gotta build a gallows for these sadists.

[@robertboykin1828]

gillitine

[@3D_foos]

in this day and age if you don't expect someone to die after calling the police to do a wellness check, you haven't been paying attention.

[@Bean5prout]

100% The amount of people police kill during a welfare check is unacceptable. If You call the police on a family member you should expect them to never talk to you again as the best possible outcome. Common outcome is that person's death or serious injury.

[@sujimtangerines]

Thank you! It truly does boggle my mind. In Dec 2021 I had a coworker not show up for shifts. Didn't even call. Boss tried to contact over several days with no answer. I RAN to snatch the phone from her when she got frustrated & said she'd call for a welfare check (employee was in her 70s and had no next of kin and our staff members were her only friends - Boss was emergency contact). I happened to know the apartment complex manager & asked if there were any circumstances she or maintenance could enter, hinting at the likely necessity. I don't know what basis she found to enter apt, but they did. Unfortunately, coworker passed, possibly in her sleep as she was still in bed, in her PJs. (Evidently it happened the night before her first no-show.) Lady had 3 handguns & a rifle, was cantankerous & a bit argumentative. Hated cops. If she hadn't already been dead she likely would have been after s police led welfare check.

[@KiwiCatherineJemma]

Here in New Zealand, we don't have any such problems about calling the police if wanting a "welfare check" on an elderly neighbour or co-worker. Oh yes, another thing... Our Police DO NOT routinely carry guns ! Guns are locked in a box inside the car and only removed if needed. Police walking a beat will almost always be unarmed. All Police do have Tasers and we know they are deadly enough, especially if used on people with health problems, such as drug users.There has never, that I know of, been a "Peer Reviewed Scientific Study" but I think you will find that in cases where the Police 'do not' have guns, far fewer suspects are actually shot to death, by said cops.

[@thatguy7085]

Wrong way to keep someone ‘well’… good way to get someone killed. Should be called swatting.

[@josephpacheco1571]

Now ain't that the truth!

[@superspark813]

Lawsuit? that's murder!!

[@stevengoodman3985]

Violation of the 8th amendment against cruel and unusual punishment.

[@user-ng2hx1ib5s]

YEEeeessss

[@tjseagrove]

They wanted to punish the guy…all present should be in jail including the Sheriff!! Absolutely disgusting.

[@michaelsommers2356]

Wanted to punish him for what? You don't believe a word they said, do you?

[@peteranderson037]

The funny thing is that there is already a remedy for punishing him. It's called a trial. You'd think the sheriff's deputies would have known that. I guess some cops really do see themselves like Judge Dredd.

[@WitnessingTyranny]

@@michaelsommers2356 Authoritarian Personality Disorder doesn't need a reason to punish someone. They just want to punish.

[@dangeary2134]

Ever notice that all too many so-called “Welfare Checks” wind up in an arrest or death for the one they are checking on???

[@johndoe-ss9bz]

@@WitnessingTyranny :: Sadist Compulsions!!! Sadist Satisfaction!!! Public-Sector Sadism against Private-Sector Detainees is rampant, leading to loss of private-sector life, in a number of cases.

[@HONORYOUROATH]

It will be revealed that placing inmates in a freezer as a form of punishment is common practice at the Walker County Sheriff’s Office Jail.

[@michaelsommers2356]

And it therefore can't be cruel and "unusual" punishment.

[@johnpublic6582]

It will be found that there is no case law clearly esablishing placing naked inmates in a freezer is constitutionally blocked, so therefore qualified immunity.

[@meritholdingllc123]

Qualified immunity!

[@thatguy7085]

Might not have been a freezer. Most jails use this form of torture to zap a persons energy. Makes unruly people easier to handle. By feeding only enough food to barely sustain life and freezing the inmates by turning the AC on max… the in,ages spend their energy trying to stay warm. It is the same kind of torture used in Russias Siberian gulags. This torture is used at the federal level down to the state, county, and city levels. The idea is to make mail a place of torture, so that prison looks good.

[@russlehman2070]

My guess is that this is the case, and that somebody forgot they had him in the "cooler" and left him too long.

[@ruspj]

I don't expect it would be the first time they put someone in the freezer. This is murder and the conditions he was kept in are criminal. Can't believe killers can just settle out of court and get away with it.

[@bipolarbear722-vn4fn]

Turns out that man was correct to fire at these murderers.

[@toddmetzger]

That is absolutely horrible. Makes me sick, just thinking about what this person went through. The Sheriff and the jailers need to be in prison for this conduct, the incident and the cover-up.

[@holarndius]

Dont worry! Qualified immunity means the cops will never even see court, obviously they feared for their safety and felt he needed to chill.

[@johndoe-ss9bz]

Where are the Lawmakers, and their view on the Un-Constitutional "Cruel and Unusual Punishments"???

[@holarndius]

@@johndoe-ss9bz They don't care because it isn't happening to them. There was a case 2 years ago where the senator ignored requests from his constituents about Asset forfeiture, the law that cops use to steal from travelers with money in their cars. The dude didn't care until it happened to him and he suddenly was up in arms about how its horrible and needs to be stopped.

[@ygrittesnow1701]

@@holarndius 18US241 and 242 would argue with that assertion. Life, liberty and due process are laws that have been well adjudicated. They can not argue they didn't know it was illegal to murder someone.

[@holarndius]

@@ygrittesnow1701 Illegal? they are cops they are a privileged class of people that we have given carte blanche to kill citizens as long as the cops claim they "Feared for their safety" and then claim Qualified immunity. What is legal and illegal is largely a non issue to cops as they investigate themselves and find no wrong doing. Wanna make a bet the pigs involved don't see the inside of a court house much less jail time?

[@clatonblade2211]

i hate when they use the words "police misconduct'' call it what it is, murder.

[@sueouzounis9439]

Why aren't the public doing something about this. Challenge the Mayor, Chief Justice & Police Chief to straighten up their behaviour. Go higher if they don't comply.

[@user-gn8eb4ii9p]

who are you commenting? people aren't reading or responding to you

[@gotham61]

Why is this only in civil court? Why aren't the Sheriff and the other people involved being indicted for murder? Even without the freezer part, putting someone in a cell for a month with only the hard floor to sleep on and no toilet is clearly cruel and unusual punishment.

[@alexanderpetrow8668]

I've been following this. Those. I don't know how you can call them officers, but they need to be charged with torture and murder. What they did to him over his time in custody is reemorisant of something you'd hear coming out of a ww2 gulag or consecration camp. It's sadistic. Then, the fact they tried to cover it up in the "hours" they could have used to save him then warming up the corpse. Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. Prosecute to the fullest, + 100 years!

[@loosemoose9799]

A dirt nap would be fitting.

[@steveashley9605]

Don't Waste anymore taxpayers monies keeping these "correctional Thugs Alive". Public Execution is all that will dissuade others from following in their Jack Boot steps. From Sheriff on down, any and all present, less the whistle blower, who was fired, should pay the ultimate price for their betrayal of Public Trust

[@wingracer1614]

Concentration, not consecration. There's a pretty big difference, LOL

[@timothyjohnson6258]

@@steveashley9605 Not just the sheriff and his crew. Somebody had to hire these people. They didn't just appear. Start with the mayor and city council and work both ways, up and down, until the problem is corrected. Any guess as the race of the individual?

[@gumby-galbraith641]

Yes they are all murdererss

[@Smurf5738]

I really hope this doesn't settle. I wanna see these men put under the jail for this. This is some of the most cruel shit I've ever heard. This Case deserves justice.

[@edwardwood6532]

Just because the city settles with a family member in the civil court does not mean others won't go after officers in the the criminal court.

[@boomknight1015]

The officers need at lest +2 life in jail. Better yet, the death penalty, if they are going to play hide the body. Which to be fair 1 life would 100% be on the table for any of us if we did that. Tampering with evidence and lying to officers would rack up much more time.

[@edwardwood6532]

@@boomknight1015 The FBI needs to be handling some of these law enforcement departments like they would a street gang or the mafia.

[@zatoth13]

@@edwardwood6532 they are just as bad thiugh

[@Elliandr]

I'd rather see the officers held personally accountable, or at least a court establishing a precedent that it's not ok to freeze people to death in police custody and not ok to falsify police records to cover it up. Without such a precedent it would mean that any officer can do this again and get away with it.

[@ianbattles7290]

Imagine if you could murder somebody and the only consequence you would face is getting sued by the victim's family...

[@realitybear5574]

In my local county jail, guards take handcuffed inmates for "elevator rides" because there are no cameras there. Guards are then able to have their way with inmates.

[@justmyopinion80]

It is not a stretch to believe that if they sheriff was willing to lie about his death, that they would lie about his arrest.

[@time.worn-soul8243]

Yup, and until bodycam footage is released proving he did what they claim he did, I'm calling bs. They've already proved themselves to be liars, so there's no reason to believe they're not lying about everything else.

[@TimoRutanen]

Perhaps. But it isn't such a far stretch to think they had SOME cause to arrest him and then torture him. It's rather likely they at least exaggerated what he actually did, as we so often hear the police do. I'm sure the court will look into that as well though I imagine it's not going to be the focus of the case.

[@wmdkitty]

@@TimoRutanen Cops lie all the damn time.

[@thatguy8005]

How many more have died during this torture… and I doubt this is the only place where people have died. It doesn’t take a freezer to kill someone without leaving a mark. A room set to max AC and an inmate left naked will soon turn to room temp. It that room temp is 50… yea, that will kill someone.

[@thatguy8005]

@@TimoRutanennever trust the court to look into anything…. Never. They will not.

[@smbarbour]

Even if he had survived, this was absolutely unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment.

[@Scepticalasfuk]

It is murder, a much more serious crime.

[@patrickday4206]

No that is torture

[@Metqa]

It's both, Torture and murder

[@jasonbuck489]

A few weeks ago here in Dauphin County Pennsylvania in the County Prision, two inmates Died of Hypothermia!.... This was when we had that cold spell that had the severe wind chills.... This is TOTALLY INEXCUSABLE!.....

[@sheldonellis1677]

I was arrested for drunk and disorderly in Orlando Florida went to the Orange county jail got into fight with the guards they strip me naked and put me on ice it's more common than you know I spent 48 hours on ice and was only released by the doctor. That was in 1991

[@Smart-Towel-RG-400]

How isn't there criminal charges already...it's sickening

[@TonyStone3000]

Because the are hired criminals. The entire thing stinks to crap.

[@bhutehole]

The who watches the watchers paradox.

[@logmover123]

What baffles me, is the family has to sue to get any justice. Whole thing is corrupt.

[@grantg2906]

Alabama.

[@toriless]

You apparently know nothing about police culture.

[@billyyank5807]

@@toriless especially in the southern states.

[@mitchjr77]

If you want (at the very MINIMUM) have the crap BEAT out of (if not Kill) someone you don’t like, request a “Wellness Check” from the Police. Speaking from experience, I’ve received one of these “Wellness Checks” from the Police. If this is the kind of “Help” our Law Enforcement provides, I’m terrified to see what they would do if they were allowed to be openly malicious!

[@dennisd4452]

this boils my blood so MUCH. Crooked blue line gang bangers. That whole department needs life.

[@Erin-Thor]

Yikes! 🥶 I hope she wins the biggest lawsuit in history. And they fired the guy who REPORTED it! Not the guy who did it.

[@HariSeldon913]

Unfortunately, not one penny will come from the actual parties involved.

[@johng6350]

@@HariSeldon913 Yep, even when cops lose a lawsuit, it's the taxpayers that pony up the dough.

[@mikepalmer2219]

The lawsuit would only punish the tax payers. That is who will pay for this. It solves nothing.

[@KevinLyda]

The guy who did it fired? Put in jail!

[@cgi2002]

@@mikepalmer2219 the lawsuit through discovery may however lead to evidence of who was involved and what they actually did in the police station, which in turn has the potential to lead to actual criminal charges since there will be massively increased public outcry when the stations own internal cctv is subpoenaed and released. I wouldn't count on it, but it is very much a possibility.

[@peggyh8937]

This is beyond despicable. They are murderers and they know it. Thank you to the whistleblower! I hope he/she is protected from these murders. If you are that whistleblower, please get the FULL story out to the main stream press quickly, all of them, so they have no incentive shut you up. Thanks for giving this a platform, Steve! The evil in this world never ceases to amaze me. Sunlight is the cure.

[@hellovicki6779]

It would be much safer for her to declare her observations loudly, repeatedly and publicly. Very hard to intimidate or harm when the cat is well and truly out of the bag. That is what I would do.

[@peggyh8937]

@@hellovicki6779 Definitely!

[@BtheLee11]

she got fired so probably not

[@lloydnelson778]

The whistle blower got fired because the sheriff office tried to cover it up..corruption at it's finest..

[@user-xs1fm3bo8t]

Mainstream media doesn't report this stuff unless it fits the decision narrative.

[@josephbrunjes6873]

FiRED!!!???? He should have been arrested for murder

[@bagdadbob3391]

The person who exposed the murderers is the only one who was fired. Pay attention please.

[@danmartens8855]

Gives new meaning to the term 'cooler". Pre-meditated murder. The officer and the entire chain of command must be charged with appropriate murder related crimes.

[@e.t.calledme]

As long as shit like this goes unpunished, financially, and if it doesn't come out of the cops pocket, it will continue.🤨

[@Bean5prout]

Nah, they need to spend the rest of their lives in the same cells they abused this poor man. No paying to get out of this, all involved in the murder and the following cover up need to be in jail untill trial then prison for the rest of their natural lives.

[@sledgenwedge]

Fuuck the 💰 blood for blood will stop this shit!

[@jellyfish1433]

This isn’t something that money can fix. Everyone involved should be put in prison. No amount of money can bring this man back, but we can still punish those involved

[@mjmeans7983]

I think that if each cop were not an employee of the state but instead were a state authorized independent contractor that required licensing as a cop, then the cop could be held liable. Similar to how doctors who are independent contractors with hospitals are subject to malpractice, but doctors who are employed by hospitals aren't, in most cases. Unfortunately, a combination of being an employee, being a state employee, being in a job that is individually unlicensed per se, and the laws of qualified immunity, all act as layers to protect the cop from most consequences beyond termination of employment.

[@markstewart4501]

This treatment is VERY COMMON PLACE. i.e. any misdemeanor CHARGE (not conviction) can get you put in jail. intake/processing can take as long as they want to. One can be in a holding cell for 15 hours before you are taken to a cell that has a mat, blanket, or pillow. The temp inside jails is always COLD. It is said to calm people, but its always feels like 60 degrees. This will just get blamed on sickness/drugs/genetics/etc. Of course the whistle blower got fired...this is the USA. Think Snowden, Julian Assange, and MANY MANY more.

[@Market-Maven]

Steve, I was in Comal County jail and it was freezing, so bad. Comal has concrete floors and along the floors are raised beds of concrete along the walls to be used as seating. They keep the temperature so cold it is inhumane, they give no blankets, no sweaters or anything to stay warm, and if you are crippled, you need to walk to stay warm, but you can't walk, so your legs become totally frozen. I was amazed to see such dark ages conditions in Texas where we have so much solar power to use for warming jails. I will remind viewers that just because someone is in jail doesn't infer guilt. People awaiting trial are left to freeze in conditions that were they at home they would not suffer such things. Where are our politicians? Where is the justice? Why so unkind in Comal? Why so full of hate to citizens of Texas? Why is this allowed? It is absolutely a PUNISHING environment. It is Torture!

[@timdowney6721]

Indeed, about 2/3 of people in jail, as opposed to prison, are awaiting trial or other adjudication of their cases.

[@sboyle7884]

What happened to our integrity, principles, sense of justice and fairness? People awaiting trial have not been found guilty. But cruel and unusual punishment applies to even the guilty, definitely not the innocent.

[@douglashoward9616]

That sounds like the jails under the Vatican.

[@RonSafreed]

I read & heard some disturbing things about south Texas!! It is said that arrestees in jail are not allowed their medications like insulin ect!! Also lawyers will not help those that are abused by corrupt police!! Also cases of folk who are diabetic & having syringes in their car is looked upon as drug use & the stupid cops cannot be convinced thete is insulin instead of illegal drugs in them needles!!

[@Marebbly]

Republicans.

[@lannyseals2084]

I have a feeling that they'll get light punishment and will be able to go over to the next county and start a nasty career all over! This is unbelievable what happened to this man, it's sickening how this can happen to someone!

[@gametime2473]

These psychopaths killed this man, looked in the window of the freezer to laugh at the man as he died. The police lied to claim he was fine when leaving the jail when he was lifeless. The police officer that reported this was FIRED! How are all these people not arrested? This is sickening.

[@chrisinhotwater9896]

This sounds like straight up murder. I would bet 100 dollars that this jail has been doing this to inmates that act up and as they say need to cool down, And I am bet they been doing for many years.

[@seejanetraveltv]

I swear to God the officer(s) who decided to do this better be charged with murder and sued into oblivion, as well as charging the entire police division into oblivion. There needs to be sweeping terminations to anyone involved or knew that man was in the freezer. They need the book and the entire damn library thrown at the officer(s) and the entire police force that was involved.

[@yestfmf]

Consider that someone with a CDL is extra liable under the law. A CCW makes you extra liable, and you can probably think of other examples. Same should apply. Law enforcement who commit crimes should face double penalties.

[@mitchhedberg4415]

They will get paid leave

[@H2Obsession]

I hope the entire state is sued into bankruptcy. As I understand there are 3 major problems: 1. Homicide (somewhere between negligence and murder) 2. Retaliation (firing of whistle-blower) 3. Cover-up (not enough LEO crimes yet... give us more) Each of them will cost the state 100s of thousands (likely millions) of $dollars$ in court/attorney fees. Plus the yet-unknown settlement amounts and punitive damages (if any). Unfortunately I doubt it will bankrupt Alabama. More importantly the death can't be reversed.

[@rogerb8837]

A monetary civil remedy is not enough for this act of inhumanity. Those involve should face criminal prosecution by the state and federal governments.

[@jamesupton143]

Any person who participated in this from actual placing in the freezer to trying to cover it up should be charged with murder.

[@OmniscientlyMe]

Lawsuit? This is murder and should be criminally prosecuted!

[@nozrep]

yes

[@johnmcclain3887]

This thing definitely go to trial and be fully investigated. This can't possibly be considered "negligent" but must be prosecuted as deliberate and malicious.

[@BohemothWatts-vz1lc]

Deliberate Indifference 42 USC 1983

[@marcelleray9545]

They MURDERED this man. And cops wonder why they are hated? They ALL need to go to prison.

[@julielumsden5184]

They should all be fired and charged and no pension.

[@Plarndude]

The leaker is a hero to be commended.

[@karlabrewster8605]

He/she she sue under "whistle blower" protection laws

[@Kurgosh1]

No. Just no. He's a cop. He's done stuff almost this bad, or seen stuff almost this bad and done nothing. That this horrific thing finally went over the line for him and he finally spoke up doesn't make him a hero, just marginally less a villain.

[@vivianpatton5692]

NO . A hero would have Saved the man .

[@MrFixItGa]

I hope the people who sometimes criticize Steve can hear the frustration in his voice like I can. It's obvious by his tone and the way he reads the information out loud that he cares about people.

[@volvo09]

Yeah, this isn't picking on a group of people, this is horrible misconduct and the most basic human rights violation.

[@GoatzombieBubba]

He is a bit long winded... at least the lawyer is long winded stereotype is true.

[@CarlosMartinez-dr8xj]

HA!

[@johnprodject3403]

My only significant criticism for Steve (on this subject) is that he's too charitable to law enforcement. The cops and correctional officers know damn well about the conduct that goes on, and the leadership/culture has zero interest in doing anything about it. I don't want to hear about the "good police officers" when they can make peace with what the really bad ones do in uniform. How many times did they do this same crap, but the guy *didn't* die? How many times did the Tyre Nichols situation happen, but they only beat the guy *a little* ? How many other times did the guy who arrested Nurse Wubbles pull the same stunt, but his victim wasn't *perfectly sympathetic*? And how about all the times these *exact* situations happen before the ubiquity of cheap video cameras, and the police simply got away with it. Nah, *to hell* with the police.

[@jackfitzpatrick8173]

Yup,it's obvious that he sees this as an astounding and disturbing incident...which it obviously is.

[@lafeelabriel]

That is deeply troubling, to put it mildly.

[@kevinf3642]

Many years ago, when I was 42 years old, I was incarcerated in the Belmont county jail, in Ohio for 11 months. They kept the cell blocks extremely cold, with air constantly blowing directly onto the bunks. If you got caught blocking the air in any way, you were penalized. It seemed to be a form of torture to me. I could easily see a person dying from hypothermia in a situation like that if they were placed there without clothes and a blanket for any amount of time.

[@robkitchen]

It is beyond time for changes to be made nationwide to our criminal justice system. It should not be a death sentence to have a common interaction with the police.

[@glintinggold]

It should not be a common interaction to even SEE a police officer except at the donut shop. They aren't hawks, they can't see through walls either. If they're called they should answer-- without killing anybody.

[@nozrep]

or the laws that already exist to hold public servants and public officials accountable for egregious acts like this could actually be enforced and applied. Instead of letting the officials continue to break laws that were written by other “better” public officials nearly a hundred years ago to hold themselves accountable to their employers, us, the citizens, the tax payers

[@jasonbourne1596]

Police are a citizens biggest threat for more reasons than I care to count these days.

[@jeremydale4548]

What we NEED to do is outlaw Qualified Immunity, which the police have abused too much to deserve at this point, and also CAF. And also we need to implement MANDATORY background checks and Psyche Evals.

[@EnthalpyAndEntropy]

@@nozrep the law already exists. It’s called the second amendment.

[@leeweesquee]

If payouts come from cop pensions, shit will get cleaner

[@blargblarg5657]

I'd settle for cops going to prison. Neither will happen but we can dream.

[@johnclements6614]

Or people start getting involved in politics.

[@lesstraveledpath]

Or the coverups will become more complete and airtight.

[@thatguy7085]

In their mind… and in the feds mind… they did nothing wrong. Freezing people in America is very common in jail facilities. It is so common they see nothing wrong with doing it.

[@jamesgeorge4874]

Law enforcement investigated itself, and found no wrong doing....

[@Chimonya]

Why are the jailers not on trial? That's murder.

[@evilsharkey8954]

This reminds me of the horrible Darren Rainey case a few years back. The victim was mentally ill and locked in a shower stall with scalding hot water that was used to punish inmates. The prison guards who killed him got away with it despite the EMT saying his burns were so severe his skin sloughed off at the touch. They literally tortured a man to death and got away with it. Some were even promoted.

[@SuperChatsRNotTips]

ND they will get away with this and they will get away with the next one alk because they settle for millions of dollars rather than making them reform

[@evilsharkey8954]

@@SuperChatsRNotTips Maybe not. There’s a microscope on cops these days, and there’s proof they lied. The victim was also white and mentally ill. Darren Rainey was Black, and the witnesses were other inmates, who seldom get believed.

[@isThreeman]

When this stuff happens public justice is usually necessary.

[@evilsharkey8954]

@@isThreeman Unfortunately, that rarely happens. Instead, you get rioting idiots who victimize soft targets who haven’t done anything wrong and distract from the real issue by making the conversation all about themselves and their destruction, or you get psychos who murder random cops who had nothing to do with this man’s murder, turning public sympathy toward the cops. It turns out, the public sucks at criminal justice and almost always makes it worse.

[@tmo4330]

@@isThreeman You mean "illegal public justice" right?

[@darylbennett1931]

Alone in the dark ,strapped in a chair . what evil is this

[@t.h.8475]

Intentionally put in the freezer. That sounds like straight up murder. I think the corrections officers need to feel that same pain.

[@BiggyB0i]

Whoever killed this man needs to see justice for this. I don't see how this isn't at least some charge

[@Bob-of-Zoid]

It's Murder! They shouldn't be charged with anything less, unless in addition to murder.

[@michaelmoorrees3585]

"Captain of the ship rules". Charge the head of that facility ... with murder ! In Addition: All employees at that facility should be fired, and have all benefits, including pensions revoked. AND all their names are to made public ! All of them should be condemned to live in cardboard boxes under a freeway bridge !

[@the_inquisitive_inquisitor]

Imagine getting sentenced to the jail you were an abusive guard at....

[@PC-vx6ko]

Everyone in the pictures and video either killed him or helped cover it up. Those two crimes are equivalent in despicability.

[@Bean5prout]

His family killed him when they called the police.

[@DogsBAwesome]

If nobody ends up in prison over this, Justice in the US is finished.

[@Salvation4DJews]

What justice?

[@jupitercyclops6521]

Where have you been the last , however old you are? We don't have a justice system. We don't have a legal system. We have a conviction system.

[@tomorrowhowever7488]

That train left the station in 1492!

[@nickybeingnicky]

Find the officers responsible and hold them accountable with your own means.

[@anthonygarland933]

European Americans have no limits as to how the melanated are treated. The beginning of the end of this country began in 1619.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

I came somewhat close to a related situation when I was in the Navy. Severely HOT day in Yokosuka on the Naval Base, got stopped and almost RUN OVER by a base cop for NO reason, stuffed in the back of a van THAT WAS TOTALLY CLOSED for hours. Turns out that I "fit the description" of robbery suspect - where the description was "short red hair, light blue shirt, blue jeans" = in other words, ANY sailor with red hair wearing the VERY COMMON "seafarer" working uniform. Not only never got charged, never even got QUESTIONED in any way shape or form - and didn't find out AT ALL about what was going on 'til AFTER I was released. I ended up in the base hospital for several hours due to overheating while in custody - and I'd only been off my ship LESS THAN 10 MINUTES when the "stop" happened. It turns out THEY ALREADY HAD THE ACTUAL PERP IN CUSTODY when they stopped ME. Unfortunately, my ship's legal department got NOWHERE on a complaint with BASE legal over this abuse - even after pointing out that I'd not had the TIME off the ship to do the crime, AND THEY COULD PROVE IT.

[@RonSafreed]

"OMG" "OMG", "OMG"!! Betcha that MP-cop is a narcissistic-psychopath & betcha he has abused other sailors in the USN-Navy?? If I was in the navy & that happened to me, I would warn other navy sailors, "watch-out " for that dude, he is really vicious & mean!! What has happened to the "brotherhood" of men in military service?? Instead it has turned into a "dog-eat-dog" & "rat-eat-rat" chaotic situation in the military!! A far cry of what the military use to be, years/decades/centuries ago!!

[@xanderunderwoods3363]

This is MURDER

[@GoatzombieBubba]

Karen Kelly, a correctional officer who had recorded some of the internal surveillance video showing Mitchell to be 'unconscious and nearly dead' subsequently had her job terminated by Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith. She is now also suing the sheriff's office, claiming she shared the video to 'make sure that the truth of what happened to Mitchell would not go to his grave with him' but the sheriff's office 'retaliated and fired her.' In her 20-page lawsuit, Kelly alleges that officials called her in as part of an investigation into a leaked video. She admitted she had shared video of Mitchell with two people - another employee at Walker County Sheriff's Office and a second person who was 'also in law enforcement.' Asked why she leaked the video to someone outside of the agency, Kelly responded by saying she was compelled to 'share the truth.'

[@writerconsidered]

Thank you for reporting that detail.

[@MartintheTinman]

It's always about retaliation not behaviour modification

[@TheWatcherxx99]

That was long-winded, are you a lawyer

[@MartintheTinman]

@@TheWatcherxx99 👎

[@thatguy7085]

Her life is likely in danger. This type of torture is common practice. It is used as a way to control inmates. If you see it and report it… your life is in serious danger. I saw this conduct… and yes, I feared for my life to say anything. This type of torture is known and approved by the feds, so, they will not help or protect you.

[@smartysmarty1714]

This reminds me of the guy who was basically boiled alive in a Dade County (FL) jail a few years back. I can't remember specifics, but it was something along the lines of them keeping him in a boiling hot shower until his skin melted off. Using that as a comparison, I guess the guy in the freezer got off lucky. And then there was the guy who died from dehydration in the Milwaukee County jail. They left him sit for 7 days while he begged for water, until he died. No matter how you look at it, all of them were murdered and people need to be convicted for these crimes. Far too often, they get off easy because they are *law enforcement officers* with special privileges.

[@Pwnulolumad]

I thought that they were corrections officers, not enforcement 🧐

[@apple-cv2xj]

@@Pwnulolumad it's all government pigs

[@AndrewMerts]

In the shower incident the water heater had been altered to raise its set point to 160 degrees fahrenheit and the shower was 100% hot water, not mixed at all. The normal range for a water heater is between 120 and 140 degrees with some able to be set to as high as 150. The paramedic wrote that he had 2nd and 3rd degree burns on over 30% of his body. The police classified his death as unexplained and for 2 years there was no investigation. Nearly 4 years after his death the coroner's office finally completed an autopsy and ruled that the man with 2nd and 3rd degree burns on a substantial amount of his body in a shower measured to deliver 160 degree fahrenheit water did not die due to any burns. It was his heart and lung problems and his schizophrenia that killed him. No one has ever been charged with the murder and the Coroner's office never saw any repercussions for their part in covering up the murder.

[@smartysmarty1714]

@@Pwnulolumad -- Technically, you're right. But I know a corrections officer who calls himself a cop, so there's that. Either way, they are murderers when it comes to this.

[@smartysmarty1714]

@@AndrewMerts -- Thanks for the refresher. I remember reading all about it. It's sickening that *they* never get prosecuted for this kind of thing. Somehow, we have to figure out a way to change this. Body cams have done a lot to take us in that direction, but there is more work to be done.

[@MichaelLloydMobile]

How did the correctional officer only get fired? If I deliberately killed someone by making them freeze to death I'm reasonably certain I would go to court and be sentenced to prison time. Criminals like that discuss me. It's even worse when there are no consequences. Being fired is not a consequence, it's a cover-up.

[@zheneggmobile]

Not only does there need to be a very large civil settlement. There needs to be criminal charges placed against those that did this and against those that were in charge and even if they weren't directly involved that they allowed people under them to do this they need to be charged criminally as well

[@kateyderr3077]

All members involved in this man's death should not just be fired immediately, all pensions and similar revoked, and put behind bars for life for what might as well be murder by criminal negligence.

[@tuomasholo]

Let’s see if someone goes to jail for trying to cover this up. I’ll be surprised if they do.

[@mikepalmer2219]

If they do it would probably be a low level stooge.

[@ihatecrackhead]

cops don't lie according to JURIES

[@cementer7665]

The 'blue brotherhood' NEVER fails to "protect and defend" their own, no matter how vile, perverted, or brutal the crime(s) one of their own commits against a citizen.

[@paulkopp3634]

From what we see in many videos these good ole boy sheriffs departments dispense their own brand of “ Justice “ .

[@neweyes777]

To the family, I am so sorry this took place, and I will be praying for yall. God bless.

[@JoeJoeTater]

My uncle nearly died when he "fell down some stairs" in jail. This story is as common as it is tragic.

[@user-gn8eb4ii9p]

Nobody cares to read or respond to your comments!

[@jaymz1251]

There's a story a few years back about prison guards who locked an inmate in the shower, turned the boiler up, turn the water on, and left him in there until his skin melted off and he died. If I remember correctly, nothing was done to the officers.

[@Burn_Slow]

That is insane Wtf

[@holmcm751]

I'm so grateful for that cop that sacrificed his position to make sure the truth was revealed. Thank you, Sir. ❤

[@charlesbutterfield3464]

This case needs a very large judgment for both actual and punitive damages. Federal law allows for very large judgments for Civil Rights Violations like this one. This needs to be in a Federal Court.

[@PC-vx6ko]

The correctional officer who was honest about what happened got fired, and no one else knows what happened.

[@thatguy7085]

His life is likely in danger. This has been a common practice of torture for decades. Your life is in danger if you speak up. The feds use the same type of torture. Is is so common, it isn’t torture to them.

[@LZeugirdor]

I don't know if the correctional officer was involved but I do hope he's safe and comes out to speak against his former colleagues in court.

[@JohnPaul-gh1fh]

Sheriff Prick Smith is probably looking for a way to snuff the whistleblower..

[@shawbros]

He got fired for breaking the blue wall of silence.

[@thatguy7085]

@@shawbros it was a woman… yea, she was fired

[@dirty46]

The man was seen being dragged from the showers because they had him in there trying to raise his temperature prior to taking him to the hospital. They absolutely knew they killed him and then obviously and poorly tried to cover it up.

[@Merrsharr]

A couple years ago a man burnt to death in the drunk tank while immobile, tied to the mattress. Police claimed he must set the fire himself, even after private investigation proved that some kind of accelerant was involved and he couldn't do anything because he was TIED DOWN. Unfortunately video surveillance of police is still not a thing here.

[@sircampbell1249]

What have they done to people we didn't know about.....

[@CVSoprano]

Even more disturbing is that there may be MEDICAL personnel complicit in this sordid, appalling mess. I'd be going after whatever they documented in any medical charts to see if they backed the false story put forth by the so-called sheriff.

[@thenoneckpeoplerepresentat8074]

The Prison Industry is where troubled and disgraced medical professionals go for work, the lowest of low.

[@thenoneckpeoplerepresentat8074]

@The Program After being checked by the prison medical staff.

[@darkarima]

I would bet they were under some degree of coercion, but it's still appalling _if_ they signed off on it versus it being typed up in their names.

[@realbadger]

"Officer, you released that incriminating video footage, being _fully aware..._ that upholding your oath of office is a fireable offence..."

[@jaykoerner]

A correctional officer doesn't take a oath afaik, they are a cop light, the stands aren't the same

[@MartintheTinman]

@@jaykoerner possibly but when you join the Blue Line Gang you swear on oath to them and become a soldier against the citizens. So she broke the most important oath as far as the Blue Line Gang is concerned

[@janetphillips2875]

Murder is upholding an office?

[@ddognine]

If this case settles, justice won't prevail. The only way is to take this to trial and win. With a win, it will be much easier to pursue the criminal case.

[@DTittle]

I went to high school with two of the victim's cousins including the one who called 911. Last I heard the case is ongoing and a couple of federal agencies are also investigating. Sad thing is it didn't surprise me when I heard about it. I lived in Walker County for over 50 years.

[@VMX1.]

I for one wouldn't settle this until all responsible parties are doing jail time.....LONG JAIL TIME. This is beyond revolting in regards to treatment of a human being in police custody. You're not police....you're thugs. As a first responder I am beyond appalled and disgusted.

[@terry6559]

I agree with you Rod; but we all know what's happening here..! (I can't shake my gut feeling, which tells me the KKK has some involvment here).

[@madmaximilian5783]

@@terry6559 people still give cops way to much recognition, they are rejects from society that don't even honor their own jobs or oaths. Many join the blue line gang just to avoid being held accountable for their every day criminal activity. The average cop would have multiple felonies if not for qualified immunity to hide behind...they would have been red flagged a long time ago.

[@littlegandhi1199]

Take a 100m settlement and handle justice yourself by highering someone to take a personal interest in each and every one of their lives until they move out of the state is what I would do.

[@adamlynch9153]

I feel like the issue is the lawyer is gonna push for a higher settlement in cash vs jail time out if his/her own self interest.

[@badlyniceness2315]

Decades of incarceration for every person involved..my back and bones hurt lying in bed..I can’t imagine how he ached and suffered..