Florida man suffers spinal injuries leading to amputation of legs
In a distressing incident that has led to serious legal and ethical questions, Heriberto Alejandro Sanchez-Mayen has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of St. Petersburg, Florida, and two of its police officers. The lawsuit alleges that Sanchez-Mayen was left paralyzed and subsequently required the amputation of both legs above the knee following a ride in the back of a police van, where he was restrained but not secured with a seatbelt.
The incident, which occurred on June 8, 2023, began when officer Sarah Gaddis detained Sanchez-Mayen for trespassing. Despite initially stating she would issue a ticket, Gaddis decided to arrest Sanchez-Mayen, citing repeated problems and complaints. Officer Michael Thacker arrived at the scene, handcuffed Sanchez-Mayen using a metal belly chain, and placed him in the back of the police van, which lacked seatbelts, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims that Thacker drove the van “in a reckless manner and at an unsafe rate of speed,” resulting in a hard stop that caused Sanchez-Mayen to be thrown forward, striking his head against a metal partition. Surveillance video from inside the van corroborates the account of Sanchez-Mayen’s forward motion and impact.
Upon arrival at the Pinellas County jail, Thacker discovered Sanchez-Mayen “lying face down, motionless, unconscious, and unresponsive.” Attempts to wake him were futile, and the officer proceeded to drag his limp body out of the van, causing further head injuries. Sanchez-Mayen suffered spinal cord injuries from the incident, leading to his quadriplegia and the eventual amputation of his legs.
The lawsuit raises significant concerns about the practice known as a “rough ride,” a dangerous and sometimes intentional method of transporting detained individuals without seatbelts and driving erratically. This practice gained widespread attention following the 2015 death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, who sustained fatal injuries while being transported in a police van.
Sanchez-Mayen’s lawsuit accuses Thacker of excessive force and intentional battery, Gaddis of false arrest and malicious prosecution, and the city of St. Petersburg of negligent supervision and training, among other allegations. The case underscores the urgent need for policy reform and accountability in law enforcement practices to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
The St. Petersburg Police Department has denied the claims and expressed its trust in the judicial process. CNN has reached out for further comment from the city and the officers involved. As the case moves forward, it serves as a sobering reminder of the critical importance of ensuring the safety and rights of those in police custody.
