Health

Diabetic College Student Tased by Police While in Shock Now Suing

A 23-year-old Ohio woman is suing the local police station for alleged brutality after she was caught driving erratically in a state of diabetic shock.

The local Fox affiliate reports that Chelsea Garrett, a college student in Ohio, became disoriented while driving back in Nov. 2011, caused an accident and almost sideswiped a Stow police cruiser. The station reports that over-the-counter medication she was taking for a cold may have affected her diabetic condition.

Garrett doesn’t deny the state she was in and even plead guilty to reckless driving, but she is suing the Stow Police Department because claims she was punched in the chest, tased, handcuffed and then tased again.

Diabetic Ohio Woman in State of Shock Suing Police for Alleged Brutality

Footage shows Garrett leaving her vehicle.

Diabetic Ohio Woman in State of Shock Suing Police for Alleged Brutality

After Garrett fell and got up again, she was brought again to the ground by the officer.

Watch the report for Garrett‘s thoughts and footage from the cruiser’s dash cam of the incident:

According to Fox, investigation into the police officer‘s actions were found to be within accordance with the department’s policy. Fox also reports that Garrett’s ultimate goal with the lawsuit is to have policies that would have allowed for this treatment changed to help others feel safe.

Earlier this year, The Blaze reported the Henderson Police Department and Nevada Highway Patrol said they would be reviewing their own policies after losing a lawsuit to a Nevada man who was beaten by officers who didn’t realize he was in a state of diabetic shock.

Comments (51)

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  • dontbotherme
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:08pm

    People with illnesses such as diabetes should wear a “Medic Alert” bracelet at all times. These bracelets save lives.

    Report Post »  
    • RamonPreston
      Posted on May 19, 2012 at 10:44pm

      You know what else saves lives? Epileptics and the such NOT driving. Includes diabetics that are hypoglycemic. She was 92 pounds but her car weighs a lot more. She hit one car and kept driving. Wonder what she looked like BEFORE the accident. What a piece of work.
      (I take insulin at least 3X/day. I know when I’m “under.”)

      Report Post » RamonPreston  
  • Shrugged
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 1:42pm

    Frankly, if I saw those eyes coming at me with a confused look, I would have to conclude she was a zombie for real – or just stepped out of a bar room brawl where she lost the fight. It would be a difficult determination she was having a diabetic reaction. Just sayin’

    Report Post »  
  • Shrugged
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 1:39pm

    I am certain the cops did not get any enjoyment out of using their tasers. In the heat of the battle, considering the surprises these cops must face, this outcome is understandable, although unfortunate.

    My suggestion is for the Girl to be more responsible and have a notification on her car or on her person that she is diabetic. (Does such a thing exist?) If she had just coasted off the raod and not hit anyone, she could have been left in shock and died. She may be lucky there were cops involved . . . .

    Report Post »  
    • ROBOBILLIO
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:12pm

      “heat of the battle”? All she did was stumble out of her car! If, at 90 pounds and, 5 foot something she managed to threaten this rather large policemen, he needs to go get a checkup. The other half of this story is the cop obviously has low T (testosterone).

      Report Post » ROBOBILLIO  
    • 2theADDLED
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:10pm

      Results of this OWS groups and the decay of our society the police don’t know who to trust and the police are being used as tools to aim hatred at just like they did in 1968.

      Report Post »  
  • bloomytoad
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 9:23am

    Did these cops have no sense of smell? Didn’t they find it odd that she appeared drunk but there was no odor of alcohol?

    Report Post »  
    • supermansdad
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 12:46pm

      Not all intoxicants present an odor. Not all people in DKA present an odor. As a police medic I have only seen 1 and that was in my clinicals at the hospital. Dude ate a whole walmart sack full of chocolate bars in a few hours. Core body temp was about 88 when brought in to the ER. Thanks to the grace of God he did make it. He had a fruity smell from 10 feet away!

      Report Post »  
  • lookatthefactsjack
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 7:43am

    So this girl smashes up her car and takes off, then tries to ram a cop, Then jumps from her car and apparently struggles with the cops as well.
    So what are the police supposed to do?? Wrestle her to the ground? Shoot her? Whack her across the knee with a night stick? (all which cause physical injury)
    Maybe they should just let her go because she is only 5′ tall and 90 lbs. (how could she possibly be a menace to the general public?) Until she squishes YOUR kid.
    So the cop should risk gettin’ a shot in the pills or scratched up (what disease does she carry?) because she MIGHT have a medical problem??
    Cops are there to protect the public from errant individuals, not kiss their butts.

    Report Post » lookatthefactsjack  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 7:59am

      The cops are not to protect you, where did you get that silly assumption? They’re there to generate revenue for their bosses and to enforce their bosses whims. If at any time their bosses decide that you’re an issue, you get to feel their clubs, tasers or get shot.

      These aren‘t your grandfather’s police, I’m afraid.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • omgfolks
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 8:44am

      According the artilce she did not try to ram a cop car, so Stow that garbage. Paramiliatry units today do not need the tools they carry around on a daily basis, it is having these tools that causes them to use them when not needed. It is like a kid in a candy store, they just cannot common sense anymore, they cry “ inf ear of my life or others” and to them it justifies the use of excessive force. This girl has a MEDICAL condition that caused this problem, she was not an outright thug TRYING to hurt someone. Paramilitary Units today should be held accountable to civilian review of their actions and not reviewing themselves. The officer who could not handle a 90lb woman should not be on the force to begin with, period. The video says “she was unresponsive to commands” Well YEAH DUMB AZZ, it was a MEDICAL ISSUE NOT AN ISSUE IN NEED OF EXCESSIVE FORCE. This officer needs removed from LEO and stripped of his right to own or carry and be made to undergo sensitivity training so he can enter the civilian world without all of the rage he seems to harbor.

      Report Post »  
    • supermansdad
      Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:34am

      @ OMG: I’ve seen cops get injured from people in “medical conditions.” Also seen civilians get hurt likewise. Others have been killed by people during medical emergancies. Does not mitigate the FACT that a person is still potentially a danger to others? Obviously you are somebody with no military or LEO background or did not pay attention during training and the law block.

      And bad guys NEVER fake illness because they are honest people. Sadly, tards like this are the reason most cops stay in condition red and never see condition yellow. We are danged if we do and danged if we dont. Had she been faking to lure the officer in then stabbed him you would have said he was an idiot to get that close to a suspect. Get over yourself. YOU WERE NOT THERE. Nor was I.

      Allow the investigation to continue. Usually the state takes over investigations like this.

      Report Post »  
  • RamonPreston
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:54am

    If you go into fits like an epileptic then you should have your drivers license revoked/suspended. You are dangerous. Pull over and stop driving! Call home! Pretty dumb for a college student. (BTW: I am diabetic and need insulin. That doesn’t give me the right to drive in an unsafe manner.)

    Report Post » RamonPreston  
    • XaviorOnassis
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 7:18am

      You’re not very good at this reading thing, are you? No one is saying she should get off for driving recklessly–she entered a guilty plea for the reckless driving and took her lumps. What she objects to is being tased repeatedly by the cops while in shock already.

      Report Post » XaviorOnassis  
    • omgfolks
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 8:50am

      I agree it does mean she has a right to drive badly, however you can never know when a reaction will occur or to what degree, excessive force by this leo is not warranted. DMV should have provisions for those with medical conditions that Doctors are to sign off on. like trucker physicals this would reduce these types of things, maybe not prevent them, but certainly reduce the chances. I do not think we should outright restrict the previledge of people with medical conditions however I think it is inportant to address these things with the people who may be prone to medical conditions and how, when and what to do, so they can be safe and others as well.

      Report Post »  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:15am

    If only this girl had been smart enough to have paid her quarterly extortion money to her local police association, ( police union slush fund) and was able to display her “extortion paid” window decal, she might of been treated better. Imagine the horrible crime of diabetic shock, or seizure people think they can get away with. A sound thrashing by police of these criminals is justified in every case.

    Report Post »  
    • myway2112
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 7:29am

      Man what are you talking about. I am a Policeman. I pull over vehicles all the time who are supporters of police causes. I still write them citations. Grow up

      Report Post »  
  • David, the Constitutional Libertarian
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:11am

    I have a brother that was arrested for drunk driving. Problem was, he was not drunk. He was lucky, a nurse came on and checked on him because he had become so lethargic that he had to be carried to the drunk cell. If the nurse had not checked on him he would be dead.

    The police are not there to protect you folks, they are there to keep order for the state. You have to realize that sooner or later.

    There are court findings that state that the police and the government are NOT there to protect you against anything. You are going to have to realize that the government and the media has been lying to you all this time. You have to be responsible for yourself and your family.

    I am surprised the government has not begun to make it illegal for diabetics to drive, so that they do not look like the gestapo when they “accidentally” kill some diabetics.

    Report Post » David, the Constitutional Libertarian  
    • myway2112
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 7:32am

      Police are not medics. There are situations where diabetics display behavior that mimics an intoxicated person. Some of these people are jailed. If you are so worried about such things please feel free to start sending money to a fund that will pay full time Doctors to work at jails so they can decided whether a guy is drunk or diabetic.

      Report Post »  
    • Buck Shane
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 10:48am

      @ myway2112

      Is your argument that it should be alright for a cop to abuse a drunk, 90 lb, 5 foot, girl?

      Report Post » Buck Shane  
    • supermansdad
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:54pm

      @David: If your a sugar dependant diabetic your are required, in most states, to have sugar with in arms reach at all time while driving. And yep, a cops gun is to protect him, not you.

      @myway: some agencies now have medics on patrol.

      Report Post »  
  • merchantsailor
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:40am

    No comment

    Report Post »  
  • supermansdad
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 12:28am

    By show of hands how many people were there and part of the incident? None? Good.

    Not defending the cops but SCOTUS has said just that: cops, or any private citizen, to not have to wait to be harmed to defend themself from a percieved threat.

    I dont give a rats hind end if she was 90 lbs. Some of the worst fight results I have ever seen in my 12 years as an officer have been from tiny women and even small men. They get worse if the person is medicated, drunk, high, mentally ill or have medical conditions. Guess what? Almost all of those are on the rise in the motoring public.

    At an agency I worked for I observed a very small woman fight off several officers two and three times her size after she got into a fight with an inmate at the county jail. After a medical eval it was found she was deficiant of a vitimin.

    I wasnt there. You weren’t there. The whole tape isn’t up. Then there’s that pesky thing cop-haters also hate: the law. Specifically case law. According to SCOTUS the totallity of what the officer knew THEN not AFTER can only be considered during a use of force incident.

    She will likely lose her suit.

    Report Post »  
    • bloomytoad
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 9:20am

      1) There is no such thing as diabetic shock
      2) not all diabetics become lethargic when hypoglycemic, some, like myself, become very combative

      I do agree that the cop will get off. Those of with “invisible disabilities” know the double standard. If you can’t physically see the condition, then obviously you’re not sick.

      Report Post »  
    • supermansdad
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 12:24pm

      Look at it again. Like others have said, when cops get taser training we are “gently” helped to the ground. He did not punch her in the chest with the taser its called a drive stun. No darts are deployed and is much like the old taser devices. If you watch it again his hand is behind her as he is assisting her to the ground.

      Video dosnt lie and neither does the patrol mans audio.

      Have you seen and heard the whole tape? Nope.

      Cops are just recently in the last few years getting additional training in diabetic coma and DKA. DKA presents to an untrained person as intoxication.

      You say he will lie under oath but don’t know that for certain. If the cop accused you of something similar before your testemony would you file a slander suit? You were not there. You were not involved in the pursuit.

      As the old saying goes, until you have been there and done that shut up. Victims of crime repeatedly give the wrong descriptio of suspects and events during the altercation. Cops have the same problem because we are human. Fallen creatures.

      Report Post »  
  • obamanation
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 12:17am

    Cops are total wussies nowadays. Even if she was a threat, why would he need a taser to detain her. She probably weighs a 3rd of what he does.

    Report Post » obamanation  
    • obamanation
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 12:20am

      There is also a risk of death from being tased. Officers need to realize that they should use them when it’s totally necessary. They tase people just because they’re annoyed by someone. I think they get a kick out of it.

      Report Post » obamanation  
    • supermansdad
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 12:40pm

      It has less to do with being a wuss than we are told repeatedly that even if you the perfect thing at the perfect time for the perfect reason your going to get sued. A partner of mine owns nothing in his name. Has a nice house, boat, truck, etc. but all in his wife’s or parents name.

      Report Post »  
  • mbck1491
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 11:56pm

    Maybe all that eye shadow scared the cop.

    Report Post »  
    • jlfonz
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 12:27am

      5′ 2″? Maybe–90 lbs–aload of crap–my wife was 5′0″ and 90 lbs when I met her–this girl weighs 110 lbs. My point is the exageration by the so-called jounalist–she weighed 90 lbs in 10 grade—maybe

      Report Post »  
  • ORACLE12389
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 11:51pm

    That’s ridiculous, tasers were designed and me a for a non lethal option to use of deadly force, as in a situation that a officer would be justified in drawing his/her side arm they can draw the taser instead. These cops now a days tase you just for asking why he pulled you over. I don’t care what they say shooting someone full of electricity is no okay no matter what they say, we don’t know what kind of effects it will have on people especially with health issues. These guys get tased under controlled conditions and have someone to control their fall. So I guess they don‘t think it’s that bad, but I can go on forever, bottom line tasers need the be regulated for certain situations not I just feel like it ********.

    Report Post » ORACLE12389  
  • Apple Bite
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 11:36pm

    Cops aren’t trained to know when they encounter a person with health issues like diabetes. Most would have to use their best judgement in identifying the situation. I’m an Ex-missile cop, and a Type 2 diabetic on insulin (recent diagosed a year ago). I wouldn’t have known unless somebody told me, otherwise, might have freaked out having seen her fall and get back up like a zombie.

    Report Post » Apple Bite  
    • Apple Bite
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 11:45pm

      But I can assure you, I wouldn’t have used a taser to get her back on the ground. From what I saw, there was no threat. She was obviously not armed from my knowledge, and as small as she was, they could have overpowered her physically without harming her.

      Just from stories I’ve heard and read about police enforcement in Ohio, those guys should scale back on the “Goliath” mentality, overpowering and intimidation of the subject without reasoning. Their safety is one thing, but it’s another issue when they seek to cause harm to the subject because of it.

      Report Post » Apple Bite  
  • MCDAVE
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 11:17pm

    This is good news..I support this action..ITs time for all conservatives.to adopt the lefts strategy and Attack them for every violation of our constitutional freedoms…Obama is guilty of 21 offenses of ignoring our constitution and the supreme courts decisions

    Report Post »  
  • bloomytoad
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 10:57pm

    I’ve been diabetic since i was 8, I don’t think there is a term I dislike more “diabetic shock”. I’ve never known a diabetic (okay maybe a type 2 “diabetic”) to use it and “shock” is not a medically correct term for sudden onset hypoglycemia.

    Report Post »  
  • nighttrainno9
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 10:46pm

    The fact that you can’t trust cops to even be decent anymore
    is very common place. In the day and that I grew up cops
    were there to serve and protect, they were the ones with
    the “cool” heads. Today the “adreniline junkies” we call
    cops are there to harass and harm. They are very unpredictable,
    you don’t know when a cop pulls you over if he will be a
    gentleman or if you are going to get tazed and beaten or maybe shot.
    The day will come soon when pulled over people will simply
    shoot rather then take the chance. I feel bad for the “good” cops
    because this behavior by their peers is going to make them targets.

    Report Post »  
  • RugDog
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 9:52pm

    Except for a VERY small majority. Most cops are stinking maggots with ego’s and badges.

    When I hear of a cop getting shot. I don’t shed a tear.

    Report Post » RugDog  
  • Maji
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 9:49pm

    Yeah this 4ft tall girl is scary looking as hell!

    Report Post »  
  • marcus_arealius
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 8:33pm

    Oh, I see. If it’s in the Police Policy Manual, then it’s OK and legal.. Right. Can we get a copy of any PD’s policy manual online? I think we (the US citizenry) would like access to any and all of them.

    Report Post »  
  • drago
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:46pm

    I have diabetis myself, and have suffered an insulin reaction behind the wheel, once.This happened withen days of statring to take insulin, and i was unfamilier with how a reaction felt, coming on,now some 30 plus years later, i know what they feel like and start preventative measures immediately.Cant really fault this young lady, seeing as reaction come on fast or slow, depending,but just one thing, she could lose the eye make-up, she looks like a hyped up vampire……

    Report Post »  
  • 3katmomma
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:43pm

    I am so glad that all police officers have medical degrees and are fully qualified to tell the difference between diabetic shock, public intoxication, psycotic behavior, and just plain illegal behavior. Granted, this was an unfortunate incident, and I would certainly hate to be in the middle of this type of situation, but the police must make split second decisions to protect the public.
    What if, because of her inability to safely operate her vehicle, she killed a pedestrian? Would she have said it was the pedestrian’s fault for being in her way?
    Unfortunately, sometimes in life no win situations. You have to deal with it and move on.

    Report Post »  
    • confederacyofdunces
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 11:12pm

      She is 90 lbs wet, out of the car and had no visible weapon. It doesn’t take a degree to cuff her. He is trained to do that without a tazer. It appears he just wanted to teach her a lesson because he is large and in charge. I say toss all the tazers. Use bean bag shotguns which Can kill. Then stupid useless thug cops cant taze people for fun.When they accidentally kill someone using the shotgun the cop should go to jail.
      A use of force committee should be interdependent of the PD, a grand jury should determine the facts

      Report Post »  
    • supermansdad
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 12:47am

      That is precisly the reason it is NOT a grand jury, tho many agencies do add civilans or use and outside and independant agency.

      Read the case law for use of force. Info the cop had at the time, from the perspective of a cop with similar experiance and training, NO HIND SIGHT AT ALL, the list goes on. Add that the research shows that using physical force (unarmed self defense, USD) is more likely to result in permanent damage than the taser and it has therefore been place before USD.

      Nope. She will lose.
      If she dosnt lose you, as Joe Snuffy- private citizen, need to worry. Thats because those use of force rules apply to you also! A person with YOUR training and experiance (or lack there of), etc. And if it shows that your lack of training or action were reckless then YOU go to jail as Joe Snuffy- inmate #2394-29450.

      Report Post »  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:42pm

    Maybe she just hopes to get enough money to pay for eye shadow and birth control.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • bitter clinger
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:34pm

    They would have shot her multiple times here.The cops shoot retards with butter knives.They shot at one kid 38 times for reaching for the spot where he had just been hit by a bean bag.She should feel lucky to be alive.

    Report Post » bitter clinger  
  • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:11pm

    The use of an ugly stick would have sufficed…

    Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
  • tyuchic
    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:35am

    right-o, bryan. one other thing. start drug testing these cops for steroids! anyone over the age of fifty can tell you these cops nowadays look nothing like cops from 30 or more years ago. after a few years of steroids, they start losing control of their already aggressive tendencies, and just look for excuses to intimidate and beat down citizens. my apologies to the good cops, but if you’re a good cop, how about admitting a lot of your chums are out of control and stop covering for them.

    Report Post »  
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