Pictures Show Injured Inmate Unconscious and Bruised

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Pictures Show Injured Inmate Unconscious and Bruised

John Laughon

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ByLindy Thackston
First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Last Tuesday, 37-year old John Laughon was taken to the hospital after a fight with corrections officers. Three officers also received medical attention.

The police report says Laughon was in a restraining chair in an isolation cell for a previous assault on an officer.

During a routine check, Officer Christopher Kelsey found Laughon out of his restraints.

Police say Laughon lunged at Kelsey and threw him against the wall.

Officer Kelsey received minor internal bruising.

Officer Christy Sames says Laughon "violently attacked her and shoved her against the wall... The inmate forced her to the floor with violent strikes with his fists about her body and head... The inmate relentlessly pummeled her with his strikes."

The police report says Officer Sames was treated for a minor scratch behind her left ear.

Kelsey and Sames are back at work, but were unavailable for comment.

A third injured officer, Richard Shinhosler, tells First Coast News he has a broken finger, but is also back at work.

Laughon remains unconscious at Shands Hospital.

The family took pictures last Thursday that show Laughon bruised and in a neck brace.

JSO Chief Steve Weintraub told reporters last Tuesday Laughon had no visible injuries, but was taken to the hospital for his mental health.

Chief Weintraub said Laughon was suffering from excited delirium, and possessing "super human strength."

Laughon's brother-in-law, Tony Seara, says Laughon doesn't suffer from excited delirium, but rather seizures.

"I think that's what happened," said Seara. "He was having a seizure, and officers just went off on him and attacked him"

"When John has seizures, he moves his arms all around," said Seara.

Laughon's family is working with an attorney.
Created: 2/28/2005 3:21:33 PM Updated: 3/1/2005 12:08:13 AM Edited by lindy thackston, reporter

© 2006 First Coast News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=33220

NOTES:
Thanks to Lindy Thackston the facts were shown to the public.

This article states, "JSO Chief Steve Weintraub told reporters last Tuesday Laughon had no visible injuries, but was taken to the hospital for his mental health." Did JSO Chief Steve Weintraub see John when he left the jaiL? Did he see John when he arrived at the hospital? Did he see John after hospital did CPR to start his heart again? I doubt it. If he had he would have known that John had VISIBLE INJURIES and was not "taken to the hospital for his mental health." I provided the picture above to the media, it was taken less then 48 hours of John's arrival at Shands hospital. I cannot take credit for taking the picture.

In a previous article JSO claimed 2 officers/guards went to the hospital, now they claim 3 received treatment for injuries. This also says the officer had a broken finger not hand, like I mentioned before.

Here we go with the pummeled version, "The inmate relentlessly pummeled her with his strikes." As I mentioned before, to pummel is to "BEAT." The very next statement says, "The police report says Officer Sames was treated for a minor scratch behind her left ear." If Sames was actually pummelled by a coherent person she would have received more then a scratch behind the ear. If anyone was "pummelled," it was John, he had injuries like a person who was "pummelled" when he arrived at Shands. His injuries were so bad medical stuff felt he needed a neck brace. He was on life support when we first saw him which meant medical staff felt it was necessary to sustain him. Thank God he was basically healthy other then his seizures because I doubt they would have been able to revive him otherwise. He was strong enough to breath with assistance of the machine even though he had two collapsed lungs, not needing to totally rely on the machine. That was one of he first things I noticed after the obivous visible injuries from head to toe, literally. Yes, he had bruises on his toes also. No one should ever have to walk into a trauma unit and see a loved one in that condition, especially when he is in the custody of LAW ENFORCEMENT.

My husband, Tony Seara, speaks for the whole family when he says, "I think that's what happened," said Seara. "He was having a seizure, and officers just went off on him and attacked him."

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