Tippecanoe County jail accused of refusing to send pained inmate to hospital until too late, lawsuit

LAFAYETTE, Ind. - "You're not getting a free ride to the hospital today."




This is what a nurse at the Tippecanoe County Jail allegedly told an inmate suffering from abdominal pain, while downplaying his symptoms as mere "drug withdrawals" and accusing him of "faking it."




According to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by attorneys representing Troy Pownell's family, Pownell, 38, was later found seizing on the floor of his jail cell. He was pronounced dead at the hospital the next day, his cause of death being from sepsis due to a perforated duodenal ulcer.




"I miss my dad every day and just wish they would have helped him when it was so obvious that he needed to go to the hospital," said Pownell's 18-year-old son, Troy A. Pownell. "We hope this case helps change how people with medical problems are treated when they are in jail. Rest in peace, Dad."

Court records show Troy Dean Pownell was found guilty of possession of methamphetamine in 2023. He missed a court hearing in late March 2024 and was booked into Tippecanoe County Jail on April 2, 2024, for failure to appear.




According to the lawsuit filed against the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department and several of its employees, Pownell reported no pain when initially arrested and booked into jail.








Attorneys claim Pownell spent the next three days in "physical discomfort," allegedly seen on video footage lying down for most of the day and placing towels over his head. His symptoms allegedly worsened on April 6 after being moved to the C block of the Tippecanoe County Jail.




Pownell complained about abdominal pain throughout April 7 with his cellmate calling for help the next day. After numerous calls for help, a nurse finally checked on Pownell.




According to the lawsuit, Pownell admitted to using heroin prior to being arrested. The nurse allegedly then concluded Pownell was just undergoing "detox" from withdrawals. The lawsuit claims that withdrawals usually come eight to 24 hours after use, while this pain was occurring six days since his arrest.




Pownell continued to call for help throughout the day, according to the lawsuit, but the nurse accused him of "faking" a serious condition. She told Pownell he just needed electrolytes.




Video footage allegedly shows Pownell needing to lean on walls and tables to stay on his feet, according to the lawsuit. He also vomited several times, and it was reportedly red in color.




Pownell's cellmates kept calling for help, telling correctional officers that Pownell was in bad shape with mucus coming from his body and that he looked like a "frail old man."




The nurse continued to insist Pownell was only withdrawing from heroin and needed electrolytes. She allegedly told Pownell, "you're not getting a free ride to the hospital today!"




Further calls for help went unanswered by the nurse, according to the attorneys who reviewed footage from the jail.




Jail officers are also accused of ignoring Pownell's cries for help, allegedly telling him "stop being a p****y." Pownell's cellmate was reprimanded for continuing to press the button that called for medical assistance.




Pownell was eventually taken for an X-ray, which concluded a "nonobstructive abdominal bowel gas pattern." Pownell still wasn't taken to the hospital and continued to vomit into his drinking cup.




By 6 p.m. on April 8, Pownell could be seen convulsing on the ground of his cell. The convulsions reportedly developed into seizures.

At 7:35 p.m., nurses "finally responded" to the cellmate's pleads for medical help, according to the lawsuit. Pownell was carried out of the cell and was allegedly cold to the touch and had no pulse.




Pownell was rushed to a hospital. The ER physician noted the Pownell suffered cardiac arrest, acute respiratory failure and required endotracheal intubation. He was officially declared dead the next night shortly before 7:30 p.m. on April 9.




"It took one hour and 33 minutes from the time that (his cellmate) began to press the call button again around 6 p.m. until anyone finally arrived to assist (Pownell), who was dying," the lawsuit claims.

Pownell's cause of death was "sepsis due to a perforated duodenal ulcer, with cirrhosis of the liver contributing," according to the coroner.




"Troy died a slow and painful death," the lawsuit states.




The attorney representing Pownell's family concluded that prior to the seizures, Pownell or other inmates acting on his behalf called for help at least 21 times.




"Individuals in a county jail are entirely dependent on jail officers and nurses to provide emergency medical care. When jail personnel deliberately ignore a sick inmate under their care, they run afoul of the U.S. Constitution and should be held accountable," the lawsuit argues.




Tippecanoe County Sheriff Robert Goldsmith stated he had no comment in response to the lawsuit.





via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/tippecanoe-county-jail-accused-of-refusing-to-send-pained-inmate-to-hospital-until-too-late-lawsuit-says/