Opinion ID: 2819100
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Smith’s Amended Complaint

Text: On July 1, 2014, Smith filed an amended § 1983 complaint against (1) Sheriff Scott Israel, (2) Sergeant J. Owens, (3) Deputy J. Lara, (4) Deputy F. Russo, and (5) Deputy C. White, alleging constitutional violations arising out of a February 28, 2014 “shakedown” of Smith’s jail cell. Smith’s complaint alleged the following sequence of events. During the search of Smith’s cell, Deputy Lara threw away legal documents pertaining to Smith’s appeal, which were part of his “quest for freedom,” without his consent. Sergeant Owens did not properly supervise Deputy Lara in conducting the search. Deputy Russo failed to stop Deputy Lara from throwing away Smith’s legal documents. Smith requested to speak with the officer in charge (“OIC”) or the shift lieutenant concerning how the shakedown was being conducted. In response, Sergeant Owens ordered Deputy White to strip search Smith. After the strip search, Smith made a second request to speak with the OIC or the shift lieutenant. Sergeant Owens then ordered Deputy Russo to handcuff Smith and take him downstairs for 20 to 30 minutes. Sergeant Owens and Deputies Russo and White failed to summon medical attention for Smith when he started hyperventilating and getting headaches due to rising blood pressure caused by the shakedown. 3 Case: 14-13558 Date Filed: 07/22/2015 Page: 4 of 6 After the shakedown, Smith filed a grievance with the “administration” concerning the incident, but nothing was done. Smith alleged that Sheriff Israel knew or should have known about his employees’ careless and unprofessional conduct, and that he failed to properly train his employees or have adequate safeguards in place to prevent such conduct.