Opinion ID: 795014
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Michael Sharum

Text: 23 Appellant conceded any Fourth Amendment claims. However, Appellant contends that Sharum is not entitled to qualified immunity, because he declined to take Grayson to the hospital. 24
25 First, we consider whether Sharum was deliberately indifferent to an objectively serious medical need to determine whether Sharum violated Grayson's constitutional rights. 1 Turning to step one of the deliberate indifference inquiry, we cannot say that it would be obvious to a layperson that Grayson required immediate medical attention at the time Sharum transported him to the jail, therefore he did not have an objectively serious medical need. Aswegan, 49 F.3d at 464. Sharum observed Grayson's reactions to his vehicle in the water and used his service weapon to subdue Grayson, but, once arrested, Grayson sat calmly in the back of the patrol car, followed directions, answered questions posed, and remained quiet and seated on a bench inside the jail. 26 Under step two of the deliberate indifference inquiry, Sharum knew that Grayson was likely under the influence of methamphetamine, but the record reflects Sharum was unsure whether Grayson was hallucinating. Therefore, Sharum did not subjectively know that Grayson required medical attention. Sharum was not deliberately indifferent to Grayson's medical needs, and thus did not violate Grayson's constitutional rights. Sharum is entitled to qualified immunity. 27
28 Even assuming that Sharum was deliberately indifferent to Grayson's constitutional rights, it would not be clear to a reasonable officer that his conduct was unlawful in the situation he confronted, because Grayson's medical needs were not objectively serious. Grayson had not been diagnosed by a physician, cf. Buckley v. Rogerson, 133 F.3d 1125, 1127 (8th Cir. 1998) (involving inmate in prison mental hospital who was diagnosed and treated for chronic schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like psychosis), nor did Grayson exhibit symptoms that were obvious to the layperson. Cf. Coleman v. Rahija, 114 F.3d 778, 784 (8th Cir.1997) (discussing symptoms of early labor, including bleeding, which were easily recognizable with external examination). Grayson was initially combative when arrested, but once Sharum subdued him, he was calm both in the patrol car and in the jail. Therefore, Sharum is entitled to qualified immunity based on the intake.