I.
On May 16th, the individual was arrested, while walking in the French Quarter, for obstructing a public place and begging. However, he had $40.00 in his pocket at the time. He was not read his rights and was illegally searched. During the arrest, the officers verbally harassed him. They held him for 24 hours. From 11:30 pm on May 16 to noon on May 17, he was in the holding cell. He was given cold sandwiches and packed into a windowless cell that was standing room only. About forty (or more) people were in the cell with him. Corrections officers verbally abused him. The individual stated that, “Livestock are treated better.” He didn’t notice any mold. He has sinus problems so he did experience some respiratory problems, however, he didn’t have any headaches. He was not allowed to make phone calls, and none of his family was notified that he was in jail. The only time he saw a public defender was in court. He had to accept what was offered to him, and plead no contest. The court gave him 30 days to pay $235.00 or he will be locked up. His court date for obstruction is June 18, 2007 and July 17, 2007 for begging. Upon release, his clothes were not returned and $40.00 was in his pants pocket.
II.
The individual was transferred from Jefferson Parish to OPP on May 20, 2007. He was arrested for an outstanding warrant. He previously pled guilty on a charge, but didn’t make the court date so he had to serve ten days. While at OPP, he was transferred upstairs to HOD. The conditions in the jail were “nasty.” Many people had infections and pink-eye, and it was very moldy. “HOD is bacteria infested.” A cell that should only hold ten people, instead held fifteen. People rarely got food and water. In the holding cell, the bathrooms were “germ infested” and backed-up. The holding cell could only comfortably accommodate about thirty people, but they packed in about eighty. The individual experienced headaches because of the conditions. He also had two cracked ribs and only received one aspirin in his ten-day stay. He had to pay $5.00 for each aspirin. Overall, he said that the corrections officers were “pretty fair.” A public defender never tried to contact him, but he said he didn’t need one anyway. All of his property was returned upon release. The individual does have a pending lawsuit for an illegal strip search.
III.
The individual was arrested for an outstanding warrant involving traffic tickets from a few years ago. At the time, the woman was driving when she noticed that the police were following her. She pulled over to let them pass and as soon as she pulled back onto the road they pulled her over for not using her turn signal. The officer asked her, “Where’s the drugs?” The woman is pregnant, and the officers refused to stop smoking in the vehicle– even though she asked them not to. She was not informed of her rights, but she was allowed a phone call. The jail cell smelled like urine, there were feces on the toilet, and she didn’t receive proper medical attention. She didn’t want to look around so she wasn’t sure if there was a mold problem. The corrections officers wouldn’t answer her questions, and there was no one there to translate for the Spanish speaking prisoners. Although she is pregnant, she was housed with the general population. She also noted that if you are pretty, the guards were more likely to be nice to you. One corrections officer even asked for her phone number.
IV.
The individual was vacationing in New Orleans with his family. They drove here from Phoenix, AZ in his daughter’s car– the family’s only transportation. A few days before the arrest, Edward left his family and took the car for the entire night. He admitted to being out binge drinking. His family became worried about him, so his daughter notified the police that her father and her car are missing. When he returned the next day, he called the police to let them know that he was back and the car was fine. The police notified him that they put a warrant out for his arrest for the unauthorized use of a vehicle and advised him to turn himself in. He followed orders and turned himself in. The officers made rude comments about his daughter and used very inappropriate language. He was held for 24 hours, but was not sure of the location he was transferred to. The cell smelled of urine, the ceiling leaked, men were so packed in that they were forced to stand for hours, people slept on the floor where there were ants everywhere, and only one out of three toilets worked. He didn’t have any respiratory problems or headaches, and no mold was seen. Overall, the corrections officers treated him fine. He was not told that he could use the phone. The only time he saw a public defender was in court. It seemed like she wanted to help him, but the judge was very strict. He plead not guilty. He plans on petitioning the district attorney. All of his property was returned upon release.
V.
On May 22, 2007, the individual was arrested while driving on Maple Street. The individual picked up some items from the side of a building and put them in his truck. He assumed that the pile was trash and that he could take anything. He was arrested for theft. The arresting officers didn’t allow him to speak to the owner or return the items (he did remove the items from his truck). He feels that the arrest could have been avoided if he was given the chance to explain himself. Both he and his vehicle were not searched. He was held for three days and spent two of those days in a holding cell on the receiving tier. The jail conditions were described as “terrible,” “nasty,” and “dirty.” The plumbing was messed up and only one toilet actually worked. The showers were cold and the toilets were moldy. Inmates were not provided with a change of clothes. He wasn’t fed regularly either. Due to the smell of urine, unclean toilets, and body odor, he ended up getting head and stomach aches. Corrections officers either ignored him when he asked a question or they said they didn’t know. A public defender never contacted him. He now has to wear an ankle bracelet. He does not know when he is scheduled to appear in court. After several days, they finally returned his property.
VI.
A man was arrested on November 5, 2005, while returning a van he used to evacuate stranded citizens after Hurricane Katrina. In the days after Katrina, he made five trips to Texas and evacuated 176 people. On his way to return the van, he passed by the NOPD police station in the French Quarter. That’s when Louisiana state troopers pulled him over. During the arrest, the troopers treated him “lousy.” And the charges were “asinine.” The troopers threw him on the ground and put their foot on his face. The searched him and the vehicle, and took his blood pressure medication and $80.00. None of it was returned upon release. The individual spent 133 days in jail without bond or a court date. There were 15 to 20 people in a ten-person cell. The cells were “filthy,” with mold (they tried to paint over the mold on the walls), and rats. There were no windows on 7th floor and there wasn’t heat. Half the time the water didn’t work, and he even went two days without water. For a few months they had catered food, but after that, meals would be four hours late, overcooked, and often consisted of rice. He did receive good medical treatment on the hospital floor. Other than the corrections officers refusing to give him extra blankets, he thought he was treated decently. A public defender never contacted him. On May 15, 2006, he was released on 701. While in jail, the individual experienced the loss of wages, employment, job opportunity, and housing. His family paid $600.00 for ten collect phone calls They never returned his boots: he was discharged in flip-flops instead.
VII.
The individual was arrested at his home in Jefferson Parish on May 29, 2007 for obstruction of justice, misdemeanor theft, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and an attachment for disturbing the peace. He was searched. During the arrest, officers violently punched him, even in the throat. The handcuffs were so tight that his wrists were bleeding and bruised. One officer grabbed his hat and wiped the windshield with it. He was not allowed to speak to his mother, who was also in the house at the time. The individual spent two days in the Jefferson Parish holding cell and was then transferred to OPP for five hours. The cell was packed and filthy, and only one out of three toilets worked. Mold was noticed in the cracks in the walls and on the floor. He wasn’t given anything to eat other than pepper sausage. He didn’t experience any respiratory problems or headaches, but he felt very claustrophobic. Corrections officers refused to let another detainee out to go to the bathroom so they left 30-40 people in a cell with feces that they never bothered to clean up. He plead guilty and was released on his own recognizance. All of his property was returned upon release.
VIII.
A man was arrested for a probation violation that was terminated in December. The individual has been held for 17 weeks in central lock-up with no mattress. Instead, he has been sleeping on a towel laid over the concrete floor. Today, he should have been released at 9 am, but it is 5 pm and he is still being held.
IX.
The individual was arrested on May 31st while sitting in the Riverwalk area. The arresting officers (one of them was Officer Fortunia) searched her extensively and inappropriately in front of two other men. They charged her with obstructing a public place and sleeping on public property. She was held just over 24 hours at OPP. At first, she was held in the holding cell, but at 1:30 am they transferred her upstairs. The jail conditions were “bad:” dirty, unsanitary, roach infested, with mold and mildew everywhere. There was no water coming from the sinks, and the toilets were plugged. In the holding cell, the detainees received breakfast at 4 am and were only fed a sandwich at dinner. The individual didn’t experience any headaches, however, she does have asthma and a history of seizures. She was not given any medication for either condition. She is also a stroke victim, and while in jail she never received medical attention for that condition either. Corrections officers were disrespectful and treaded her horribly, often using foul language. A public defender did contact her to inform her that she was being released. All of her property was returned upon release.
Previously, the individual has been arrested in 2002 for lewd conduct. She was released for that offense on February 14, 2002. She was also in jail during Hurricane Katrina. Immediately before Katrina, she witnessed officers beat a man to death. She has a long history of arresting officers not returning her property. In the past, they have taken $15.00, jewelry (specifically a watch) worth $500.00, and a tongue ring.
