Opinion ID: 212658
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Arrest and Transportation

Text: At the scene, witnesses observed that Border showed obvious signs of intoxication. In her affidavit, Lacina Smith states that Border was visibly intoxicated, his face was pale, his eyes were glazed, his speech was slurred, he had difficulty maintaining balance, and he had poor coordination. Smith recalls that another witness, Michael Overton, told officers that Border was under the influence. Lacina Smith also recalls that she witnessed Adam exit the vehicle with a pill bottle in his hand. Smith states that she advised [officers] from the Cortland Police Department that Border was “messed up” and “had a pill bottle on him that was full pills (sic).” Justin Schubert, a friend of Border, was also present at the scene and recalls that Border appeared intoxicated, had difficulty maintaining eye contact, had difficulty keeping his head up, and had difficulty maintaining consciousness. In his affidavit, Schubert states that he asked officers to “look after” Border. Schubert recalls telling the officers at the time that Border “isn’t acting like himself right now.” Both Lacina Smith and Justin Schubert state that Border went behind the BP building before the police arrived. According to Schubert, Border was behind the building for approximately 1-2 minutes. A prescription bottle was later found at the scene, but not until a full 24 hours after Border’s arrest, and after Border’s death. Border was arrested and transported to the Trumbull County Jail by City of Cortland Police Officer John Weston. In their briefs, multiple parties refer to a video -2- No. 10-3167 Border v. Trumbull County recording, submitted by the City of Cortland, . . . showing a portion of Border’s transportation to the Trumbull County Jail. In the video, Border appears either intoxicated or very tired. While Border appears to nearly nod off multiple times, he is able to hold an intelligible conversation with Officer Weston throughout the video. At no point in the video does the subject of medications come up during the conversation between Border and Officer Weston.