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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1997)
Policy creates tension TRANSPORT from page 1 common after Francisco Renteria died in Sep tember 1994 while in police custody. Renteria died from asphyxiation and compression of the neck a day after a struggle with police. Offic ers at the scene had called an ambulance when they noticed Renteria had vomit around his mouth. Recently, Casady said, Lincoln Police and Rural-Metro Ambulance Services tried to work out a written agreement establishing protocols for such cases. Casady said that about once a month, offic ers have to arrest people who resist arrest to the point where they could hurt or kill themselves. Casady said researchers have found a phe nomenon called positional asphyxiation, where someone who is combative dies suddenly from medical distress caused by the struggle. Re searchers are suggesting that police depart ments be supervised while transporting com bative suspects. Casady said the Lincoln Police Department was trying to take that recommendation one step further by using medical supervision when transporting combative suspects. The EMS Board’s decision Wednesday sug gested that suspects be taken to a hospital, evaluated and released by a doctor before be ing taken to jail. When paramedics arrived at the Moose’s Tooth on Thursday, the lack of time to discuss the EMS recommendation caused confusion. Only after long discussions between Rural Metro paramedics and police was Mecillas taken to jail. Making the police department send combat ive suspects to the hospital — even if they are displaying no medical problems—is asking for trouble, Casady said. And combative suspects could endanger emergency room personnel. “We have a long, long history of taking vio lently combative people to the hospital,” he said. “I can assure you, we’re not welcomed with open and welcome arms when we come in with someone who is so violent and combative that it takes six officers to get them in.” But a Rural-Metro official said the recom mendation to further screen people at a hospi tal came from the doctors themselves. Doug Wyatt, the Lincoln director of operations for Rural-Metro, said the decision from the EMS Board was another level of caution for taking combative suspects into custody. But, he said, protocols would be worked out between the hospitals, the police and Rural Metro to protect all involved. Wyatt said the ambulance service and the police had protocols worked out when the EMS Board added its recommendation. He said po lice and Rural-Metro officials were set to start working on new protocols when the Mecillas incident occurred. Casady’s frustration with the added step, Wyatt said, will be talked about in the future. “It’s an issue that needs to be addressed, bid it’s definitely not a game-breaker,” Wyatt said. Casady said he was “really disappointed” in die EMS decision but hoped they could work the problem out. “The police department is trying desperately to deal with these situations in the safest way possible for the public, for the officers and especially to the person in custody,” he said. “It’s really disappoint ing to have a roadblock thrown up.” .. . Law a Order_ IIHIIIIIllMIIIIWI.IIlia— Shoplifting/Arrest Three juveniles were chased down trying to steal athletic shoes Thursday night. Three boys, ages 13,14 and 15, went into The Athlete’s Foot, 1213 Q St., TTiursday at around 8:30 p.m and asked to try cm shoes, Lincoln Police Sgt. Todd Beam said. With the shoes on, they asked the manager to see two other pairs. When he turned to get the other shoes, they ran, Beam said. The man ager, an employee and a customer chased the three teens, and another downtown business manager joined in the chase. When the four men caught up with the ju veniles, the boys resisted, Beam said. The 13 year-old bit one of the adults, drawing blood, and kicked a police officer. Hie 13-year-old was cited for shoplifting, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer and taken to the Lincoln Attention Center. The 14-year-old was cited for shoplifting and re sisting arrest and referred to Youth Aid, as was the 15-year old. Both were released to their parents. Fire A fire in the Farmhouse Fraternity put a stop to 76 students’ studies, but not much more. Lincoln firefighters were called to 3601 Apple St. where they found a mattress on fire. The blaze was quickly doused and no one was injured. Rick Grady, house president, said an elec tric blanket started the fire. UNL to sponsor blood drive By David Welch Staff Reporter Campus Red Cross volunteers are giving UNL students a living reason to donate blood. Jessica Phillips, a 10-year-old who receives blood transfusions on a regular basis because she has leukemia, said blood donations allow her to participate in activities like ice skating and student council. “Tlie gift of blood is the greatest gift of love anyone can give,” Phillips said. Red Cross volunteers will collect blood do nations for the University of Nebraska Lincoln’s annual Blood Drive today and Tues day, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Nebraska Union’s Centennial Ballroom. . Jeana Schmid, a UNL senior pre-med stu dent and Campus Red Cross co-chairwoman for the event, said she expects this year’s drive will be as successful as last year's. Last year, Red Cross volunteers collected more than 450 donations, Schmid said. This year’s goal is 500. Students who are donating blood should eat breakfast, and bring their student identification cards, Schmid said. This weeIc at UPC ,_ \ . 'r'j .; I *Thursday, Jebruary 27 8 p.m. Gfc 'The Crib, ^Nebraska 'Union M AhtiluN PEOpU's Union vd iUeBJacIi TUeatre Orqanuanon will sponsor a Soul Food Dinner at tUe SeIIecIc DinInq Area From 4:707:70 p.m.Dinner is fREE foR UNL REsidENriAl Cosponsored by the Tfltck Theatre Organization STudENIS Wnh SludENT IDS ANd $6.20 fOR All OlilER STudENTS. Kane Koestner $MJN Guest SpeaIcer 'XStSSSto WEdNEsdAy, FsbRUARy 26 Wcentelv, 7:50 p.w. • Wick AluMNi Center Sponsors: RHA, HeaMi Center, SuxIent FouNdATioN, AffiRMAiivE Action, IFC, Campus Escort, AThlEric Department, PANhEUiENic, & CUaneIIor's CommIttee on iUe Status of Women Snowball *Dance with Complete CAbusic FmdAy, FEbRUARy 28 ^ 9^12 p.M. • East Campus jp*, iili ; |L . /'-ft’#:''v^- : I ■ B'. h •:" <3— = If you’re into computer science, data processing, accounting, auditing, math or law... |: |f. 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