Cops Arrest, Handcuff Woman Having a Diabetic Attack
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Medioimages/Photodisc/ThinkStock(SANTA FE, N.M.) — The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico is investigating the arrest of a woman who police thought was drunk, but was actually suffering a diabetic attack.
A severe diabetic attack caused Revina Garcia to crash into a truck last Friday. Police video shows cops breaking her car window to pull her from the vehicle and leaving her face-down on the pavement handcuffed, until she was placed in the back of a police car.
Paramedics arrived 10 minutes later and treated her. Garcia says she’s amazed she’s still alive.
“I’m surprised I didn’t go into a coma in the back of that police car,” she said.
Garcia said police need more training on how to recognize the difference between someone who is drunk and someone who is having a medical emergency.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Robert Garcia says they’re investigating the incident and will meet with the family. He plans to discuss ways that law enforcement can make sure medical issues are considered at each scene and treated properly.
“What concerns me is there’s no need to lay someone on the ground for that amount of time, there were other deputies around that could have assisted in at least sitting her up,” the sheriff said. “In this case there was no resistance. We are looking at that very seriously.”
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