Shocking incident raises questions about proper medical assessment during arrest

A disturbing incident has come to light involving the arrest of a woman who was actually suffering from a life-threatening stroke. Nicole McClure, the victim in this case, crashed her car in Washington on March 21, 2022, after experiencing a stroke.

The lawsuit claims that instead of receiving immediate medical attention, McClure was arrested and allegedly kept in a cell for 24 hours. It wasn’t until later, when she was taken to hospital, that doctors discovered she had a frontal-lobe subdural hematoma, requiring emergency brain surgery.

The dashcam footage of the incident shows a trooper, Jonathan Barnes, approaching McClure’s vehicle with his gun drawn, accusing her of evading police. Despite McClure’s assertions that she was not intoxicated and had been experiencing dizziness and headaches, Barnes proceeded to arrest her on suspicion of intoxicated driving and felony evading.

Even after being taken to the hospital, McClure was allegedly not given proper medical attention, with hospital staff reportedly not informed of her involvement in a crash. She was eventually taken to Thurston County Jail, where the lawsuit claims she received no medical help despite her deteriorating condition.

The lawsuit further alleges that McClure was mocked and ignored by jail staff, exacerbating her condition. She underwent emergency brain surgery and was hospitalized for 17 days, resulting in severe brain injury.

This incident raises serious concerns about the handling of medical emergencies by law enforcement and the need for proper training and protocols to ensure individuals receive appropriate medical care when needed. The lawsuit against the Thurston County Police highlights the importance of recognizing and responding to medical emergencies, even in the context of a police arrest.