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Judi Lynn

(160,217 posts)
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 06:51 AM Feb 2020

Boy handcuffed by cops while having seizure, vomiting at fast food restaurant

Source: ABC News

"He has autism, he has epilepsy, stop it!" his mother can be heard screaming.
By
Jon Haworth
February 2, 2020, 4:22 AM
5 min read

A 16-year-old boy with autism was handcuffed by police officers who attempted to arrest him after he suffered from an epileptic seizure at a fast food restaurant.

Lourdes Ponce said her son had just left the doctor after suffering from epileptic seizures when they went to an El Pollo Loco fast food restaurant in central Fresno, California, according to ABC News’ Fresno station KFSN.

Those seizures, however, returned when he went to the bathroom at the restaurant and his mother heard him hit the floor.

"I stood outside the door, I heard him hit the floor, I tried to open the door but it was locked, that's when I asked for help," said Ponce. "We called paramedics for help, we did not call police. He was not hurting anybody; he was having a seizure.”

Ponce’s daughter called 911 for help but when police arrived they attempted to handcuff the teenager and video of the incident obtained by KFSN even shows officers trying to put Ponce’s son in the back of a police car.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/boy-handcuffed-cops-seizure-vomiting-fast-food-restaurant/story?id=68704677

32 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Boy handcuffed by cops while having seizure, vomiting at fast food restaurant (Original Post) Judi Lynn Feb 2020 OP
When you think like a hammer Cirque du So-What Feb 2020 #1
When you're as dumb as a box of hammers lagomorph777 Feb 2020 #32
That is just appalling. DonaldsRump Feb 2020 #2
They don't need to pay big time Turbineguy Feb 2020 #17
1st. what crime did he commit that he needed cuffs?!? morons. pansypoo53219 Feb 2020 #3
He didn't obey a lawful order. to stop foaming at the mouth, stand up and put your bonniebgood Feb 2020 #6
This message was self-deleted by its author RandiFan1290 Feb 2020 #4
+1 2naSalit Feb 2020 #16
How weird... Mike Nelson Feb 2020 #5
most 911 calls are going to summon police as well as EMTs stopdiggin Feb 2020 #30
We're turning into a police state. sinkingfeeling Feb 2020 #7
Post removed Post removed Feb 2020 #9
In all fairness it is a boiling frog scenario Merlot Feb 2020 #15
Or to some people csziggy Feb 2020 #20
That's a real mistake because until and unless the cops listen to the EMTs Warpy Feb 2020 #31
Sue those fuckers, go fund if needed but sue them. lark Feb 2020 #8
What the AF! LittleGirl Feb 2020 #10
... Faux pas Feb 2020 #11
That area is really right wing repuke racist part of California kimbutgar Feb 2020 #12
Fresno is where The Wizard Feb 2020 #21
The kid is lucky they did not shoot him Scalded Nun Feb 2020 #13
Epilepsy, eh? STOP MOVING NOW and show us your medical records dalton99a Feb 2020 #14
Why didn't the 911 dispatcher call paramedics? IronLionZion Feb 2020 #18
They did but this moron of a officer whistler162 Feb 2020 #26
My uncle, who was a WWII vet, was arrested down south for public intoxication yaesu Feb 2020 #19
Much experience with the Fresno County Sheriff's Dept. from when I lived out there Bayard Feb 2020 #22
Wow seta1950 Feb 2020 #23
Seizure incidents are a lot more common that most people realize. Paladin Feb 2020 #24
my daughter used to have seizures. Seizures are not always linked to demigoddess Feb 2020 #25
It does seem as if the true problem with the police here PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2020 #27
My job, before I retired, was educating the community about epilepsy, Grammy23 Feb 2020 #28
MASSIVE BLOWBACK from disability community and advocates, PatrickforO Feb 2020 #29

DonaldsRump

(7,715 posts)
2. That is just appalling.
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 07:34 AM
Feb 2020

I am so sorry for this young man and his family, and I hope the Fresno cops pay big time for this (cash to the family, cops fired, and otherwise).

bonniebgood

(937 posts)
6. He didn't obey a lawful order. to stop foaming at the mouth, stand up and put your
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 08:10 AM
Feb 2020

hands behind your back, orders.

Response to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mike Nelson

(9,903 posts)
5. How weird...
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 08:07 AM
Feb 2020

... having a seizure is not against the law in California. There would be no need for the police. I would have seen if it was possible to unlock the door from the outside... sometimes management has a way to do that... they should have a plan for using the bathroom, when out in the community. The door must be unlocked, with a person waiting outside to explain the situation and help, if needed. Also, the paramedics were called, not the police... unless there was a police incident at the same time? I hope they figure out what went wrong...

stopdiggin

(11,092 posts)
30. most 911 calls are going to summon police as well as EMTs
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 02:15 AM
Feb 2020

particularly if the emergency is somewhat unclear. What I see as the real problem here is LE that are simply refusing to listen to anybody on the scene. It would be helpful to know just what kind of info 911 relayed ...

Response to sinkingfeeling (Reply #7)

csziggy

(34,120 posts)
20. Or to some people
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 12:56 PM
Feb 2020

For instance, if I did not see coverage of incidents like this one, I would not think we are a police state. I am an older white woman with a stable income and living situation. Cops do not react to me the way they do to minorities or those with income and living difficulties - or to anyone considered "other."

These days I think cops are afraid of anything and anyone who ir different - different color, different speech, different actions. They apparently do not have the training, smarts, or inclination to know or to want to help people who don't fit into their expected niches or who don't act the way cops think they should act.

This is getting worse, especially since Dolt45 is saying their actions are acceptable.

Warpy

(110,909 posts)
31. That's a real mistake because until and unless the cops listen to the EMTs
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 03:07 AM
Feb 2020

about what's going on, they're going to keep making these appalling mistakes. Maybe establishing a hierarchy, like EMTs run the ambulance calls and cops run other types of calls would work. What they're doing now is dangerous and those guys are going to kill somebody with money at some point and the shit will really fly.

It would also help if they manage to understand that tasers are not sedatives.

We used to make cards with things like "I am not drunk, I have had a stroke" but now even those are dangerous because some twitchy cop will think they're reaching for a gun. It's getting insane enough that we're going to start to need shirts with our medical diagnoses printed front and back in big letters.

Note that I don't hate cops, most of 'em are out there doing a tough job. It's just the ones who push their way around and try to control everything at a scene and don't know what the hell they're doing that I object to.

lark

(23,003 posts)
8. Sue those fuckers, go fund if needed but sue them.
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 09:25 AM
Feb 2020

Only if we make it hurt them will they even consider revising their behavior, as long as it's just shoved under the rug, they could continue to escalate and who knows that asshole cop might hurt next?

kimbutgar

(20,882 posts)
12. That area is really right wing repuke racist part of California
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 11:44 AM
Feb 2020

I think it is Kevin McCarthy’s district. A friend I know who is black grew up there and said it was so racist she left there at 18. She only came back to help her mother dying of cancer and she said she was retraumatized by all the racism her time back there.

That said the young man should be wearing a medical alert bracelet.

dalton99a

(81,068 posts)
14. Epilepsy, eh? STOP MOVING NOW and show us your medical records
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 12:00 PM
Feb 2020
Ponce then ran to her car and produced papers that showed her son's medical history as well as his history of epilepsy, which is allegedly when authorities released the boy and emergency medical services were able to take him to the hospital to be treated.


Fucking assholes

IronLionZion

(45,258 posts)
18. Why didn't the 911 dispatcher call paramedics?
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 12:44 PM
Feb 2020

Police can show up too but they needed paramedics not racists.

Could be a case where the cops were hoping for an ICE detention. Papers please! No, not medical papers, we need proof of whiteness.

I hope some organization sues for reforms on this family's behalf.

 

whistler162

(11,155 posts)
26. They did but this moron of a officer
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 08:22 PM
Feb 2020

was likely closer and should have acted as a first responder not an idiot.

yaesu

(8,020 posts)
19. My uncle, who was a WWII vet, was arrested down south for public intoxication
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 12:51 PM
Feb 2020

he was stumbling around, ect... Later, in jail, when he didn't improve, they sought medical assistance, he died a short time later of a brain tumor.

Bayard

(21,805 posts)
22. Much experience with the Fresno County Sheriff's Dept. from when I lived out there
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 01:41 PM
Feb 2020

I would guess the city cops aren't any better. The area where I lived, on the edge of the county up in the mountains, was as redneck and racist as they come--much more than being back here in KY.

The deputies also don't like mouthy bitches who know their rights, and moved there from, "back east". I ended up in handcuffs and hauled off to jail.

Paladin

(28,202 posts)
24. Seizure incidents are a lot more common that most people realize.
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 05:07 PM
Feb 2020

Those cops ought to lose their jobs over this.

demigoddess

(6,640 posts)
25. my daughter used to have seizures. Seizures are not always linked to
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 08:00 PM
Feb 2020

wrongdoing. These cops should have to take a class or two and instruct their fellow cops. Next it will be handcuffing people who are breathing too loudly.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,746 posts)
27. It does seem as if the true problem with the police here
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 09:03 PM
Feb 2020

is that they most likely have little or no training about medical situations. They need it.

Grammy23

(5,808 posts)
28. My job, before I retired, was educating the community about epilepsy,
Sun Feb 2, 2020, 10:17 PM
Feb 2020

Causes of seizures and prevention of seizures. We went to schools, businesses and yes, police departments. Often police are called as first responders if a person has a seizure. Not all seizures involve shaking, odd movements, clinched teeth. Some people just stare and fumble with their clothing. They may mumble incoherently or repeat phrases that don’t make sense. Following an order (hands up, get on the ground) often is impossible because they are not comprehending what you are saying. Explaining to a policeman or deputy what is happening to the person’s brain (temporarily) may help prevent injury or even death to a “resisting suspect”.

It should be a required part of a LEO’s training to learn what to do and NOT do when someone is having a seizure. In fact, all first aid training should include the basics of seizure first aid. I used to do programs in schools to kids as young as kindergarten so they would not be afraid if a classmate had a seizure. It is more common than you’d believe. By 4th grade, we had programming to teach the students how to give first aid to someone having a seizure. More than a few students reported that they had a family member who had seizures and had been present when it happened and were involved in administering first aid. If a kid can learn, so can a law enforcement officer.

PatrickforO

(14,516 posts)
29. MASSIVE BLOWBACK from disability community and advocates,
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 12:11 AM
Feb 2020

and hopefully a MASSIVE lawsuit.

You don't handcuff someone having an epileptic seizure for God's sake! What are these fuck heads thinking???

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