An Oregon sheriff’s deputy was caught on video attacking a paraplegic activist earlier than shoving him right into a jail cell with out his wheelchair.
The officer may be seen slapping John Lee Malaer earlier than leaving the disabled man half-naked on the cell flooring with out the wheelchair or entry to his catheter, which he wanted to alleviate himself, in response to footage from the cell obtained by The Oregonian.
Medford cops picked up Malaer in in 2019 after his wheelchair bought caught on the sidewalk and he allegedly threw stones at a retailer with a view to get the clerk’s consideration.
He was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment. The costs have been in the end dropped after the shop clerk who known as the police died.
Throughout his 20 hours in custody, Malaer was pressured to urinate on his cell flooring a number of instances and defecated on the mattress as a result of he didn’t have his catheter, in response to his lawyer, Alicia LeDuc Montgomery.
Malear, an advocate for homeless individuals with disabilities, alleges that he was slapped twice whereas in custody. One of many slaps was caught on video, and a deputy admitted to the opposite slap throughout a state police investigation.
He additionally claimed that deputies pressured his head between his legs whereas he was cuffed and his wheelchair whereas he was being processed, regardless of not bodily resisting.
Moreover, LeDuc Montgomery stated her consumer’s solely entry to water was the cell bathroom for 5 hours as a result of he couldn't attain the sink.
Malaer, 63, is now suring the deputy who slapped him, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Workplace and different native regulation enforcement officers, in response to the Oregonian. He claims he was sufferer of malicious arrest, use of extreme pressure, retaliation, discrimination and that his rights beneath the People with Disabilities Act have been violated.
Jackson County Deputy Brian Kolkemo admitted to slapping Malaer within the face twice following a state investigation. Whereas he's required to doc any use of pressure, he didn't on this case. Kokemo described the slap to investigators as a “distraction strike.”
He stated he selected to slap Malaer as a substitute of dumping him out of the wheelchair, which he thought could possibly be extra violent.
Following the investigation, the Jackson County District Legal professional’s Workplace thought of fourth-degree assault and harassment costs towards Kolkemo, however prosecutors declined to pursue the case, in response to the state police information, the Oregonian reported.
It’s not clear if Kolkemo was disciplined by the sheriff’s workplace.
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