CLEVELAND — A former Cuyahoga County jail inmate with a medical condition says a jailer grabbed him by the neck and left him in a wheelchair after the inmate twitched uncontrollably.
The 33-year-old man told 5 On Your Side Investigators that a nurse inside the jail's medical pod was giving him his daily medication when he began twitching as a result of Tourette's syndrome. That's when the former inmate, who is now out of jail serving probation on a domestic violence case, says the jailer grabbed him by the neck and buried an elbow into his back.
The union representing the county's corrections officers says the officer didn't realize the man had a medical condition. Instead, a union official said the officer believed the man was a threat to the nurse and the jailer. The union says the officer was attempting to restrain the inmate.
According to records obtained by 5 On Your Side Investigators, the nurse told the guard to let the inmate go. According to a witness statement the jailer told the nurse, "I'm used to it, I choke people out."
A county spokeswoman confirmed the October incident is under investigation. The jailer has worked for the county since 2013. He remains on the job.
A hearing on the incident is scheduled to take place later this week.
The inmate says the incident caused him to lose feeling on the left side of his body. He's hired an attorney.
