The 5 New Haven, Connecticut, cops charged within the case of Randy Cox, a Black man who was paralyzed whereas being transported in custody, appeared in court docket for the primary time Thursday.
They had been anticipated to be arraigned however as a substitute, the decide transferred their instances to New Haven County Courtroom. The officers’ subsequent court docket look shall be on Jan. 11, ABC native affiliate WTNH reported.
Cox, who’s paralyzed from the chest down, was not current in court docket Thursday. His lawyer Jack O’Donnell mentioned he wished to be there however “logistically it was too troublesome.”
Sgt. Betsy Segui (left) seems in Superior Courtroom in New Haven for her arraignment within the case of Randy Cox, who was paralyzed whereas being transported in police custody.
WTNH
The officers — Sgt. Betsy Segui and officers Oscar Diaz, Ronald Pressley, Jocelyn Lavandier and Luis Rivera — had been charged last week with second-degree reckless endangerment and cruelty to individuals misdemeanors.
The fees stemmed from a June 19 incident when New Haven officers arrested Cox for legal possession of a firearm and breach of peace. Surveillance video exhibits the officers then positioned Cox behind a police van with out seatbelts. Throughout an abrupt cease, Cox was thrown headfirst into the again wall of the van.
Although Cox repeatedly requested for assist, saying he could not transfer, the officers didn’t instantly render him medical support and allegedly assumed he was drunk after they arrived on the police station.
The video footage additionally exhibits the officers dragging Cox by his ft and throwing him right into a wheelchair, which his legal professionals mentioned might have exacerbated his already life-threatening accidents.
Cox filed a $100 million federal lawsuit in opposition to the town of New Haven and New Haven Police Division officers in September.
Cox’s household and legal professionals mentioned his docs decided he won’t ever stroll once more and, as of final week, will proceed to require help with consuming, consuming, bathing, and different primary wants.
The town launched an inside affairs investigation into the incident and can decide whether or not to advocate the officers, who’re presently on paid administrative depart, be fired from the New Haven Police Division.
LaToya Boomer, Randy Cox’s sister, speaks out at a press convention after 5 New Haven cops had been charged over an incident that left Cox paralyzed.
WTNH
The U.S. Division of Justice introduced in July that it is also closely watching the investigation.
The case has prompted reform guarantees from New Haven mayor Justin Elicker and police chief Karl Jacobson, together with new insurance policies geared toward enhancing security protocols in the course of the transportation and detention of people, notably these in want of medical consideration.
