Attorney: Another wheelchair inmate mistreated

TAMPA -- A Largo attorney says he represents another inmate who claims that deputies at the Orient Road Jail tipped him out of his wheelchair, leaving him on the jail floor for an hour. That incident, too, was captured on videotape, according to attorney John Trevena.

"The video's very dramatic," Trevena said. "It's particularly egregious because after they dump him out, they just let him crawl around on the cell floor." Click here to watch the video.

Benjamin Rayburn, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence, says detention deputies dumped him from his wheelchair and left him helpless on the floor. Trevena says Rayburn is paralyzed from the chest down.

"They casually dump him out of a wheelchair in a cell," Trevena said.

The video of the incident was not immediately available. The Hillsborough Sheriff's Office did not have an immediate comment.

According to a Hillsborough sheriff's report provided by Trevena, the incident happened Oct. 3, 2006, at 9:05 p.m.

Rayburn had a glass crack pipe inside the jail, and he swung the pipe at Deputy Brett Strohsack, trying to stab him, according to the incident report. Rayburn then threw the pipe, which shattered, striking Deputy Derek Shaw in the back of the head, the report said.

The incident report says that deputies then "relocated Rayburn from his wheelchair to the holding cell floor."

After the incident, investigators charged Rayburn with aggravated assault, battery on a law enforcement officer and introducing contraband into a county detention center, according to the report.

Rayburn has been arrested 17 times in Florida since 1993, state records show. He was arrested by police in Tampa, Clearwater, Orlando, Winter Park and Temple Terrace, and by sheriff's deputies in Pinellas, Orange and Seminole counties.

This is the latest in a string of complaints about inmate abuse at the Hillsborough jail that began with an allegation that a deputy dumped a quadriplegic from his wheelchair, leading to criminal charges against the deputy, who resigned.

- Abbie VanSickle, Times Staff Writer

Comments

I tell you sadist work there. Remember the old saying (and for good reason), "birds of a feather flock together." Now fix this problem or become exposed!

[Roy Slambone]

The guy broke a perfectly good crack pipe?

[Gilbert Ford]

An avalanche of alledged abuse lawsuits are on the horizon. While I feel in some cases things did "seem" to be conducted profesionally viewing closed circuit television, I am still inclined to wait and see. I am most wishful for getting the "alledged abused" under oath FIRST! As for Mr. Sterner, had he not been taunting the cops I do not feel he would have been there, Ms. Pomagranite although the photo depicts SOME rough housing going on, I'd like to know what took her so long to report it. The incident concerning the exotic dancer is questionable as well, the Xrays they presented 2/15/08, clearly shows the left armed being broken above the elbow with the break shown outward, the second Xray depicts the break inward amazingly enough, they were of the same so-called extremity but from a vastly different view. I am NOT saying it did not happen, I am saying videos can be altered or do not tell the whole truth ala Martin Anderson. That is why it is extremly important to get EVERYONE under oath.

P.S. If someone tried to stab me with a broken crack pipe I would dump their asses too, in fact I do not know many who wouldn't.

Remember people, these are the crimals of society. The DUI's, the murders, rapes. They ALL are getting what they deserve.

[John]

Here they come, they're coming out of the woodwork. You're going to see all sorts of lawsuits. By the way, I got tipped over in my wheelchair by a police officer, I think I'll sue as well. I think I hit the lottery.

[Latricia]

6:13 - Just because someone was arrested does NOT mean they're guilty. Cops are as crooked as a dog's hind leg. I think we can all agree on that. And you're grouping together murderers, rapists, and DUI's??? You're stupid.

[bulletinizer]

This appears to be a leadership issue.

[herb]

What does an Orient St jail guard tell an inmate with two black eyes? Nothing. He already told him twice.

[ricco]

The Orient Road Jail rivalS some of the former Soviet Union Jails.There needs to be an undercover operation by FDLE,FBI or the wimpy news media.
I honestly believe the Newspapers are afraid of the Sheriff; rightfully so.
Evidence and charges can be fabricated in an instant. Once in jail an accidental fall or stabing can happen resulting in death. THE SHERIFF NEEDS TO CLEAN HOUSE WITH THE SUPERVISION,OR PERHAPS THE SHERIFF SHOULD RESIGN.
THOSE IN CHARGE HAVE BEEN SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGE ABOUT BRUTALITY.
This is not Abu gra prison or is it.?
TERRORIST ARE TREATED BETTER AT GITMO.
HAS EVERYONE NOTICED HOW QUITE GOVERNOR CRIST HAS BEEN? HE SEEMS TO HAVE NO OPINION,PERHAPS TOO PREOCCUPIED WITH POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS..

[Adam]

You want to know the sick part? I applied to be a police officer and I was turned down because I had a suspended license when I was 19. The recruiter told me that I wouldn't be taken because having your license suspended was a sign that you were irresponsible. I'm a college graduate and they turned me down. Apparently I had two qualities they didn't need: compassion and common sense.

[Richard]

Which one of the Orient Rd Jail detention officers lost their noose at Lake Roberta?

[bunner]

Lemme put this in a way that maybe the cops can get.

KNOCK IT THE **** OFF, YOU BLITHERING IDIOTS! STOP IT! YOU LOOK LIKE JIVE-ASSED, PANSY, WEAK SADISTS! KNOCK IT OFF! BE PROFESSIONAL OR GO FLIP BURGERS!

Thank you.

[the internet]

I like to think of things this way. I make about 5 times what a cop makes in a year. Ta-da! I feel better already.

[kevinski]

to be certain--
there was a time not long ago,when our societies would employ decent people to rehabilitate criminals.
that time is gone..now,we as western nations have adoted a warfare against each other,,
the strong against the weak,,

sick people,sick society.
a stalag,,with police on one side and the population on the other,,

this is sick.
no-one deserves such treatment,,it labels our societies for what they are,,fascist states with bhurgers ignoring the atench of the chimneys,,and claiming ignorance,,

kevinski

[George]

What do all the guard have in common?.. affirmative action at its best

[James Lukasavage]

The guy got ten years in prison for what's that - assault with a crack pipe?

Awe, did the poor cop get a widdle bruisy-bruise or a widdle scratchy-scratch on his widdle heady-head? Poor baby!

[Just another guy]

Gotta love the publicity Tampa is getting.

http://www.cafepress.com/getdumped

[Dick C Flatline]

How do you fight an increasing tide of vicious, retarded thugs? Why, hire your OWN vicious, retarded thugs.

Last days of Rome, folks.

[Joker]

HAhahaHAhAHahahaHAhAHaHaHahAhAHAhAHaHaha!

He who fights and crawls away lives to crawl another day!

[borg]

We are borg. Resistance is futile. Surrender your weapons and prepare to be boarded. You will be assimilated. Your distinctiveness and technology will be added to our own.