Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Public Sector Gulags
The world will never know how Eric Perez died
Ursus:
West Palm Beach juvenile detention center guard Floyd Powell, who had wanted to, and tried to, but was unable to, call 911... was one of the two employees sacked for... not calling 911. He is now suing for wrongful termination.
Video news footage at the link:
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WPEC - CBS 12 News
Jail guard fired after teen's death, suing for wrongful termination
July 18, 2011 9:34 PM
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. -- We are learning more about the 18-year-old who died in a juvenile detention center in West Palm Beach. Monday we heard from the mother of Eric Perez and her lawyers. They say they have spoken with one of two Palm Beach Regional Detention center employees who lost their jobs.
The guard, Floyd Powell, says Perez complained of a severe headache and was vomiting for hours. Officer Powell says he wanted to call 9-1-1 but claims his supervisors would not let him make the call.
A statement from Officer Powell's attorney says, "Officer Powell was on duty the night of the tragic death of Eric Perez. Officer Powell attempted to call 9-1-1 and was given a direct order by a supervisor to not call 9-1-1. Officer Powell had been recently promoted and then suddenly terminated. Officer Powell was terminated from his position after disclosing to state investigators that he was ordered not to call 9-1-1. Mr. Powell and his counsel are seeking damages for his wrongful termination."
During a press conference on Monday Maritza Perez told CBS12 if you met her son you would like him.
"Every time I wake up, I just wake up thinking that he's right there, when I know he's not going to be there. If I'm down, he will bring me back up. He was my baby, you know. He was a good kid," Maritza Perez.
"There was a flagrant violation of the rules and standards that should have been employed in this juvenile detention facility. When you're screaming in pain from your head, and vomiting-- that's a pretty hard thing to fake. This is a situation when help was required to be called, and it wasn't done," said Richard Schuler, Perez family attorney.
The Department of Juvenile Justice declined comment because of the ongoing investigations into Eric's death.
Copyright © 2011 Freedom Communications · CBS 12 News
Ursus:
Comment left for the above article, "Jail guard fired after teen's death, suing for wrongful termination" (July 18, 2011; WPEC - CBS 12 News):
Debbie Abdelnour · July 19 at 7:11am
This is so sad...My heart goes out to this Childs Family.........I would raise hell too!
Copyright © 2011 Freedom Communications · CBS 12 News
Ursus:
Video news footage at the title link:
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NEWS CHANNEL 5 — WPTV
Former guard plans to sue the state
Posted: 07/18/2011
By: Mike Trim
Photographer: WPTV
Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc.
Fired in the wake of a teenager's death at a West Palm Beach juvenile detention center, a former guard plans to sue the state.
Former Palm Beach Regional Detention center officer Flloyd Powell plans to sue under Florida’s Whistleblower Act.
He has retained Lake Worth attorney Cathy Lively as his lawyer.
"I was given a directive order from my supervisor not to call 911 and that's it," said Powell.
Powell said he was on guard duty in an area with several juvenile detention rooms with a common area in the middle.
That's where Powell says he saw Perez violently vomiting at about 2:15 a.m., roughly 5 hours before he died.
Powell says he wanted to call 911, but his boss ordered him to not call.
Powell added detention officers aren’t allowed to carry cell phones.
He says another officer left two voicemails with an on-call nurse and then called the center's superintendent who allegedly said not to call 911 as well, but instead watch Perez closely.
Perez fell asleep, according to Powell, and then, more than 3 hours later, he was allegedly taken to a medical confinement room.
At some point after that, Perez died.
When asked about his termination, Powell said, "I feel upset and sad at the same time."
Powell said after Perez died, investigators asked him questions.
He says he told them about being instructed not to call 911.
A few days later, Powell was fired.
Powell said was told he hadn't completed his probationary period for his new promotion properly. He said was promoted 6 months prior to Perez's death.
He also said he was an employee at the detention center for 5 years.
In all, six detention center staffers were placed on leave after Perez's death.
Two, including Powell, were fired..
Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc.
Ursus:
Comments left for the above article, "Former guard plans to sue the state" (by Mike Trim, 07/18/2011, News Channel 5 - WPTV):
Jodi Shortle-Colberg · Last Week
As a former nurse for DOC I can believe the officer when he was ordered not to call 911. We were not allowed to call 911 without the DOC doctors orders. I found this to be outrageous then and now but so trueErich Werner · Last Week
This whole episode is outrageous. A young man died while in custody and SOMEONE MUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS NEGLECT.
Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc.
Ursus:
Video news footage at the title link:
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WPEC - CBS 12 News
Former detention center guard says he was prevented from calling 9-1-1
July 19, 2011 5:46 PM
WEST PALM BEACH , Fla. -- The state released documents about the employees who were fired or placed on leave because of the death of 17-year-old Eric Perez while in custody at the West Palm Beach Detention Center. A lawyer for the fired guard disputes contentions by the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Monday Eric's mother and her attorney told CBS 12 before his death Eric complained of a severe headache and was vomiting for hours.
So far the Juvenile Detention Center has fired two employees, supervisor Terence Davis and Officer Floyd Powell, and suspended four others. The Department of Juvenile Justice says the firings were for failing to call 9-1-1.
In a statement issued Monday night the Department of Juvenile Justice says "Floyd Powell and Terence D. Davis have been terminated for failing to call 9-1-1, in accordance with their training and clearly posted DJJ policies."
Reached by phone, Cathy Lively the attorney representing fired Officer Floyd Powell, said her client wanted to call 9-1-1 to get Eric help but was prevented from calling.
"Floyd Powell had no access to a telephone at that time. There was no land phone in the mod area. And he was prohibited from carrying a mobile phone.," said attorney Cathy Lively.
Lively says when Powell tried to go to central command to call 9-1-1 the supervisor told him not to go. Lively says the superintendent backed up the supervisor's order.
"Mr. Powell wanted to call 9-1-1, but was directed not to do so by supervisory personnel. So he was terminated for following a direct order," said Lively.
Lively says she plans legal action on behalf of her client.
Copyright © 2011 Freedom Communications · CBS 12 News
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