Posted on 02/21/2013 9:13:55 PM PST by Altariel
Robert Saylor, a 26-year-old man with Down Syndrome, died of suffocation while in the custody of three off-duty sheriff’s deputies last month, according to the ruling of the Baltimore County Medical Examiner’s office (video below).
According to WJLA-TV, Saylor liked the movie 'Zero Dark Thirty' and wanted to watch another showing. However, a Regal Cinema employee asked Saylor to leave.
When Saylor refused to leave, the employee summoned theater security, which was three off-duty sheriff’s deputies: Lt. Scott Jewell, Sgt. Rich Rochford and Deputy First Class James Harris.
The three security guards handcuffed Saylor and threw his face on the ground where police say he had a “medical emergency," which was likely a struggle to breathe.
Jennifer Bailey, of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, said in a statement: “They made numerous attempts to get him to leave, he was cursing at them, at that point they physically removed him, and he began having the medical emergency.”
Bailey said the off-duty deputies “immediately removed the handcuffs and administered first aid” when they noticed Saylor going into distress.
Saylor was later pronounced dead at Frederick Memorial Hospital in Frederick, Maryland.
The case is now under investigation by the Maryland State Attorney’s Office.
Patti Saylor, Robert’s mother, stated that her son “has never had anyone put their hands on him in his life. He would not have been doing anything threatening to anybody.”
Source: WJLA-TV
Jackbootlickers to show up in 3... 2... 1...
Can't say that I'm an expert or anything, but I have never met a person with Downs syndrome who would ever need to be restrained. All that I have met are very peaceful people.
Now I can recognize a downs syndrome kid pretty easily tho some are more obvious than others. One thing they all seem to have is a sweet nature.
Why in the world did they handcuff then throw him face first on the ground? I suspect it was to injure him a bit and show who was boss as if a downs kid needed to be shown.
I would just about bet that I could have gotten the kid out of there with no physical force at all, except maybe very minimal.
My youngest brother has Down’s syndrome so I know what I am stating - these cops are murderers and they are trying to cover their arses because of their monumental screw-up. Of course, since they are cops and likely UNION cops in a deep blue state, they will face ABSOLUTELY no punishment for their crime.
My condolences to the family of the victim.
It’s pretty easy to spot a Down Syndrome person. These cops are pieces of s***.
No foul play here....Move on. /sarc
Ditto.
“Jackbootlickers to show up in 3... 2... 1...”
IMHO, those are correctly called “copsuckers”.
But, I could be wrong.
****Saylor liked the movie ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ and wanted to watch another showing. However, a Regal Cinema employee asked Saylor to leave.****
Since when do you have to leave between movies? It used to be you could go to the movies when the theater opened, watch a double feature twice and leave when the theater closed.
The thugs with badges will use their get-out-of-jail-free card - “I feared for my life!”.
I’m surprised the cops didn’t shoot a dog in the vicinity! I guess they had to make up for the lack.
Maybe they ran out of little girls in wheelchairs.
That theater must be in a really sweet part of town to require three off duty cops for security.
You quite obviously never went to a showing of "Star Wars" when it was first released.
The lines waiting to get in zigzagged through the parking lot, and you could get in line before eleven AM and not get in before dark -and everytime the movie ended, you could hear the cheering clear outside. This from a complex that had four different theatre rooms, two of which were playing staggered showings, mind!
It was worth the wait.
(Not saying that THIS movie was, necessarily.)
The real point is that they should have let the guy stay for the next showing. He wasn't hurting anyone and the cost of a $9 movie ticket is no excuse to get physical with a man that is obviously mentally delayed.
This type of story really makes me mad. I know that this guy just being born these days is way against the odds in the first place in our superficial culture. To basically beat him to death should warrant career ending disciplinary charges as well as a potential prison sentence for these three idiots with badges! I also hope that Regal Cinema gets a multi million dollar judgment against them and the manager loses his job. He should have let it slide.
I saw Star Wars with my brother when it first came out. Theatre was crowded, maybe sold out. Went back following week with my father and brother. My dad liked it so much we stayed for the next showing. No problem at all. Never heard a thing about it.
This was in one of those old single screen monster 1,000 seat theatres built in the 30’s and 40’s. It was crowded, but there where empty seats. Even in the balcony.
yet we have three power hungry hateful cops throwing this guy to the ground...he probably was a foot shorter than any of them....big men....really big men...
Odd.
The words “fired”, “arrested” nor even “suspended” do not appear in this article. The perpetrators of this awful crime are not even named.
I question why the theater would not let him re-watch the movie. Rarely do people want to re-watch a movie. When they do, they do for a good reason. They might have to leave the movie for a trip to the restroom or to answer a cell phone call. They might decide to make a quick trip to the snack bar, only to find themselves in a slow line. With the many things that can interrupt a movie; that one spent good money to watch, there is no good reason to prevent one from the full enjoyment of that movie. Then need for a second viewing is necessary.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.