Police welfare check turns into unfair arrest when woman was getting ready to take a bath

A woman was paid $ 2.4 million ($ 3.4 million) after she was illegally arrested while naked inside her apartment during a welfare check.

Carolyn O’Neal sued the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office for her arrest in May 2014 while she was in a sober living facility.

According to The Denver Post, officers responded to concerns that she could harm herself.

O’Neal told the three male officers that she was not going to hurt herself, but was naked getting ready for a bath.

But the officers did not believe him and used a key to enter his apartment.

The three officers then threw her on the bed before arresting her.

O’Neal was still naked when she was taken to jail, where she was then placed in a restraint chair for several hours.

Officers shot her twice despite holding her arms and legs and forcing her to wear a spitting mask.

“This was a scandalous case,” O’Neal’s attorney, David Lane, told The Denver Post on Sunday.

“Law enforcement officers who believed they were above the law were hit hard by a jury. And unfortunately, this costs Fremont County taxpayers a lot of money.

“But I hope it inspires the public to hold law enforcement accountable, otherwise it will come out of their pockets.”

O’Neal’s disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges were previously dismissed by a judge. Officers have since admitted that they should have taken her to a hospital rather than a jail, KDVR reported.

“Management called the police, her mother was dying, she was depressed and she made an informal statement about ‘things are going so well, I feel like I should drive my car off a cliff,'” Lane recalled O’Neal saying. prior to your arrest.

O’Neal suffers from PTSD and other mental health issues, a family member told KDVR.

Where to get help:

• Life line: 0800 543 354 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828865 (0508 SUPPORT) (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
• Youth line: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
• What happens: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• Helpline for depression: 0800111757 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
• Rainbow youth: (09) 376 4155
• Samaritans 0800 726 666
• If it is an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.