Ohio will pay out a record $17.5 million to a man convicted of child sex offences after he suffered spinal cord injuries when was tackled to the ground by prison guards, in a shocking prisoner abuse case.
Seth Fletcher, 21, became paralyzed after prison guards at Chillicothe Correctional Institution used 'sadistic and malicious force' when they tackled, handcuffed and dropped him on his face following a strip search last year.
Despite his pleas for help, his injuries were ignored and he lay limp, unable to move, overnight before he was finally taken to hospital in the morning.
One of the guards later bragged on Facebook about 'paralyzing the dude, LMAO,' according to the lawsuit that was filed days after the incident.
Seth Fletcher, 21, will be awarded $17.5m after he became paralyzed when prison guards at Chillicothe Correctional Institution in Ohio tackled him to the ground following a strip search in April 2020 (pictured in his wheelchair)
The incident began during a strip search on April 2, 2020, where guards reportedly discovered a cigarette on Fletcher, which they suspected also contained drugs.
They handcuffed Fletcher and were escorting him to the segregated housing unit after 6pm when Corrections Officer Christopher Coy said said he tried to pull away.
He tackled him to the ground and in that moment, Fletcher suffered a severe spinal cord injury.
Fletcher said that he couldn't feel or move his legs but guards failed to take his complaints seriously and dropped him multiple times on his face after the initial injury, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
His requests for help to guards and nurses were ignored and he was deprived him of medical treatment. It wasn't until the following morning at 9.49am, when he was visited by psychologist Eric Anderson, that medical attention was called.
When Fletcher begged for a drink of water, guards poured water on his face and one later bragged that they had 'water boarded him LMAO.'
Fletcher said that he couldn't feel or move his legs but guards failed to take his
