By Sarah Fruchtnicht, Tue, December 31, 2013
A 35-year-old woman in Pennsylvania is suing Allegheny
County claiming her arm had to be amputated after sheriff’s deputies injured it
and the jail’s medical provider ignored her pain.
Amy J. Needham was arrested on April 2 after a warrant was
issued because she missed a preliminary court hearing, the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette reported.
She claims sheriff’s employees broke down a bathroom door to
take her into custody. The complaint says she was simply using the restroom
when they Tasered her, applied arm bars and wrist locks, and put on handcuffs
"that were too tight.”
She says the rough treatment resulted in "compartment
syndrome," or increased pressure in the muscle compartment, that can
results in muscle and nerve damage.
Her attorney, Marvin Leibowitz, said she was spent one week
in jail and made 16 requests to see a physician. The mother of three was
eventually hospitalized at UPMC Mercy, where doctors amputated the arm.
"She feels that her life is ruined," said
Leibowitz. "I think she's having psychological problems. You're 35 years
old and you lose your arm."
In April, Needham had failed to appear in court on a
misdemeanor charge that was later dropped. She pleaded guilty to a disorderly
conduct charge in August, but was not sentenced to punishment.
She pleaded guilty this month to charges stemming from her
April arrest, including two counts of assault and one count of resisting
arrest. She was given nine months of probation.
Sources: Post-Gazette, TribLive
