WASHINGTON (AP) -The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the death of a man with Down syndrome who died in police custody while being removed from a Frederick movie theater.
The Washington Post reports Frederick Sheriff Charles A. Jenkins said in an interview Friday that Justice Department officials are investigating the Jan. 12 death of Robert Ethan Saylor. Jenkins told the paper he learned weeks ago by letter of the investigation into whether Saylor's civil rights were violated. Jenkins says he expects that once investigators review the facts they will see that three off-duty Frederick County deputies involved in the incident acted appropriately.
The 26-year-old Saylor watched "Zero Dark Thirty" at the theater with an aide. He then slipped back into the theater without paying and refused to leave.
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20 comments:
Any reasonably intelligent person would have taken one look at the kid and known that they were dealing with a downs syndrome person. Add irrational behavior and only a pack of morons would approach him or anyone else lacking the capacity to rationally think for themselves, in the manner that they chose, which was their typical heavy handed, we're the boss attitude. The caregiver that was there made them aware of his diminished capacity, yet they chose standard procedure. Now he's dead because of their lack of compassion and unwillingness to adjust their procedures. Sad needless deal.
I am surprised DOJ is investigating, considering the disabled man was white...
Stupid!! But this is the training our police are getting now... These tactics were first used by Hitler.
A good cop would have paid for the kid to watch the movie.
This is child abuse and murder. Period.
I do not know if the police responded appropriately with the information available, but the caregiver should not have left him in the bldg alone or should have mentioned to theater management where he was going and advised him of the nature of his disabililty and the possibility of how he could react if put in a stressfull situation
Saylor was known for his hugs and was so fascinated with the police that he would sometimes call 911 just to ask a question.
In January, he and an aide watched “Zero Dark Thirty” at a Frederick movie theater. As soon as it ended, Saylor wanted to watch it again and would not leave the theater.
Officials say this is what happened next: The aide, an 18-year-old woman, was getting the car when a theater employee called the three off-duty officers, who were working security at the Westview Promenade shopping center, and told them that Saylor needed to buy another ticket or leave.
When the deputies confronted Saylor, he verbally and physically resisted their attempts to remove him. He said they restrained him using three sets of handcuffs because of his large size. When the deputies placed Saylor on his stomach, it was for “one to two minutes” and that once Saylor began showing signs of distress, the deputies removed the handcuffs, called for help and administered CPR.
A witness heard Saylor cry out for his mother, who even though he didn’t know it, wasn’t far away. Alerted by someone to what was happening, Patti Saylor was on her way to the theater and was almost there.
In February, the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Baltimore ruled Saylor’s death a homicide as a result of asphyxia. The report indicated that Down syndrome and obesity made Saylor more susceptible to breathing problems.
9:34-I'm not sure you know the whole story. This disabled man had already broken out a window and was extremely agitated.
This is a hard call because were the cops supposed to let him continue and risk other movie goers getting hurt?
As the guardian of an extremely mentally disabled adult who is also prone to severe agitation I don't think taking this man to a movie is a wise thing to do. Too much stimulation which is a trigger for these outbursts.
I know some of the group homes have a "want them to live as normal a life as possible" philosophy but that's not the reality nor is it always best.
"She (the 18 yr old caregiver) said Saylor, known to his family as Ethan, had a history of angry outbursts, including one earlier that night.
They had already seen the movie once and were outside the Frederick theater when she asked Saylor if he was ready to go home. Saylor began cursing and punched a Lenscrafters storefront window, she told police.
Somewhat frightened, the caretaker called Saylor's mother, 55-year-old Patti Saylor, of New Market.
‘Patti told her to just wait him out and his attitude will change,’ an investigator wrote in a follow-up interview report."
Anonymous said...
Any reasonably intelligent person would have taken one look at the kid and known that they were dealing with a downs syndrome person. Add irrational behavior and only a pack of morons would approach him or anyone else lacking the capacity to rationally think for themselves, in the manner that they chose, which was their typical heavy handed, we're the boss attitude. The caregiver that was there made them aware of his diminished capacity, yet they chose standard procedure. Now he's dead because of their lack of compassion and unwillingness to adjust their procedures. Sad needless deal.
July 21, 2013 at 9:34 AM
And you are an idiot! Many of these individuals are severely disturbed and cause some serious harm. I have seen it happen many times. Many of them are very dangerous.
Anonymous said...
A good cop would have paid for the kid to watch the movie.
This is child abuse and murder. Period.
July 21, 2013 at 11:52 AM
This poster has Down Syndrome!
4:55~ Where did you read he broke out a window? I've read several articles about this situation and I haven't read that anywhere.
4:55 I'm glad God made sure you don't have any 'special needs' children. Not all 'Downs' have this issue when taken to a movie. It is good for everyone no matter who you may be to get out of your home and associate in the real world. Sadly you are probably one of those who look down on this with either a stare or a look of disdain.
10:27-If you read my comment and comprehended it, I clearly do not say that all mentally disabled whether Downs or not can be treated the say way in regards to their recreational plan.
Another thing I would bet to say I associate with "special needs" people more than you or most people ever will.
You clearly do not know this whole story. The man was prone to angry outbursts and had had one earlier in the day.
When the movie had ended they left and he was highly agitated even hitting Lenscrafter's windown. Caregiver called his mother who said something along the lines of waiting out his agitation. Caregiver called another caregiver who said to go and bring the car closer to the mall. He walked back in the cinema and that's when this incident occurred.
Bottom line you do not take a man prone to anger who was already showing signs of it to a movie that is not only violent but loud. YOU DON"T DO IT. It can and may be a trigger for another outburst.
Next time before you dare lecture me know the hell what you are talking about and learn to comprehend
when reading.
10:08-Not sure if window broke but it's all over in a ton of articles that caregiver said he punched a window of another business by the theater. When the 18 year old realized he was out of control she called his mother who said he will get over it!
Evidently he had seen this movie twice. Personally I do not understand why anyone would take this man whose mind is like a young child's to this movie. It starts out with some very violent torture scenes. Maybe a Disney film but not this one.
"She (the caregiver) said Saylor, known to his family as Ethan, had a history of angry outbursts, including one earlier that night.
They had already seen the movie once and were outside the Frederick theater when she asked Saylor if he was ready to go home. Saylor began cursing and punched a Lenscrafters storefront window, she told police.
Somewhat frightened, the caretaker called Saylor's mother, 55-year-old Patti Saylor, of New Market.
‘Patti told her to just wait him out and his attitude will change,’ an investigator wrote in a follow-up"
11:52-That path would have been the wisest,but not one single MSM source has mentioned the theater manager.He was yelling "I wan't him out of here now"!while this drama was going on.If he had not been raising hell,stomping his feet and wanting Saylor out of the theater before the next group arrived this may have gone just as you suggested.
My first job was working in a group home for mentally disabled adults. I can tell you that movie would have been off limits for all of our residents.
We had to fill out recreation and leisure plans for the week and quite often our best plans had to be put on hold due to something along the lines of an "angry outburst" by the client prior the activity planned. If not properly controlled the outburst will manifest itself again. Control includes reading to them, listening to soft music with the client. Going to a loud movie with not only violence but all the lights flashing within hours of the outburst is a recipe for another outburst. Too much stimulation for an already over stimulated person who hasn't been properly de-stressed which can not be done either without a good nights rest for the client after a calm evening.
Do you not know the whole story 9:55? Saylor was yelling and cursing and had already punched at a window. Caregiver knew he was out of control and had even called his mother. Of course he didn't hurt anyone but the manager has to also think of his employees and other guests safety.
10:13-I understand your point.The manager does have the responsibility of insuring the safety of guests and employees.You are a more complete thinker than I because you backed up to the beginning.From a law enforcement perspective,the story always begins when I arrive.Whatever occurred prior to my arrival necessitated my being called,but I can't fix what already happened.I can only attempt to fix everything from my arrival on.
Grand jury voted not to indict.
I believe this was due to the determination by the ME that had it not been for the man being morbidly obese he would not have died due to asphyxia. 22 witnesses were interviewed and not one recalled seeing the officers do anything that could be construed as brutality. And the first LE official to approach Saylor did try to reason with him but he was out of control and cursing.
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