Family of Pa. man who died after asthma attack in prison sues over use of pepper spray
Updated Dec 24, 2020;
PHILADELPHIA (AP) The family of a Philadelphia man who died in a Pennsylvania state prison has filed a federal lawsuit, saying his death was due to an excessive amount of pepper spray used by guards who then denied him urgent medical care when it caused a prolonged asthma attack.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday by Shaleda Busbee, the mother of 29-year-old Tyrone Briggs, who died at the State Correctional Institution at Mahanoy, Schuylkill County, in November 2019.
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections spokesperson Sue McNaughton declined to comment on the open lawsuit.
Family of deceased inmate sues over excessive pepper spray bradfordera.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bradfordera.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The department issued a news release in November 2019 saying 13 members of the prison s staff, including unnamed guards and medical personnel, had been suspended during an investigation into Briggs death. McNaughton declined to say Tuesday what the outcome of that investigation was or whether any of those personnel were fired.
The lawsuit lists 11 guards and medical personnel as John Does as well as two supervisors at the facility as defendants alongside the Department of Corrections.
Lawyers with the Abolitionist Law Center allege that guards used an “unjustifiable amount” of pepper spray to break up an altercation between another inmate and Briggs, who they said was defending himself in the fight.
A Philly man died in state prison His family says corrections officers killed him inquirer.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from inquirer.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Family of deceased inmate sues over excessive pepper spray use before death
Lawyers for the Pennsylvania state prison inmate s family say it was known to prison medical staff that he had asthma. Author: Associated Press Updated: 5:48 PM EST December 22, 2020
The family of a Philadelphia man who died in a Pennsylvania state prison has filed a federal lawsuit, saying his death was due to an excessive amount of pepper spray used by guards who then denied him urgent medical care when it caused a prolonged asthma attack.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday by Shaleda Busbee, the mother of 29-year-old Tyrone Briggs, who died at the State Correctional Institution at Mahanoy about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of Allentown in November 2019.