Long Island Family Sues Police For Brutality

[struggle4progress]

Apr 21, 2005 10:35 am US/Eastern

(1010 WINS) (SOUTHAMPTON, Long Island) The family of a Southampton man who died in police custody last year says they have medical proof of brutality by the Southampton Village Police Department.

Police officials say officers tried to calm 35-year-old David Glowczenski, who was mentally ill, when he became confrontational and ended up wrestling with them. According to authorities, they were forced to use Mace and a Taser stun gun to subdue him. The Suffolk County medical examiner said Glowczenski died of acute exhaustive mania, or in other words, he was scared to death. <snip>

http://1010wins.com/topstories/local_story_111115616.html


Faulty Autopsy Allegedly Performed by County Official
Timothy Bolger 04/21/2005 12:02 am

<snip> Standing on the steps of the Nassau County Court Building in Mineola on Wednesday, Frederick Brewington, attorney for the family of David Glowczenski, said, “We are demanding that the grand jury be convened immediately,” that charges of murder be filed and “the medical examiner’s office immediately, as of today, be placed under strict and clear investigation for their actions and their justification of death in police custody cases.”

The plaintiffs allege that Glowczenski, a 35-year-old schizophrenic Southampton resident, who they say was stabilized on his medication, was “essentially set upon by a number of police officers from the Southampton Village and was then Tazered, handcuffed, beaten, pepper sprayed, hogtied, choked and caused to die as a result of those injuries,” in the Feb. 4, 2004, incident, Brewington says. <snip>

Deputy Suffolk County Medical Examiner Dr. James Wilson issued an autopsy report Nov. 5, 2004, that labeled the cause of death “acute exhaustive mania due to schizophrenia” and the manner of death “natural.”

But forensic Pathologist Dr. Lone Thanning, contracted by Brewington to perform a second autopsy, found “extensive evidence of excess application of force” to Glowczenski’s body, including electrical burns, contusions and abrasions on the face and body. It was also revealed the victim’s testicles ruptured in the incident. Thanning is the Chief Medical Examiner in Rockland County. <snip>

http://www.longislandpress.com/?cp=162&show=article&a_id=2193

[Book Lover]

1. Can a Long Islander unpack this for me?

If this happened in Southampton, why is this being discussed in Mineola? Shouldn't they be in Riverhead?

[stillcool]

5. I don't understand that either...Why Nassau County? n/t

[NeoConsSuck]

6. The lawyer was quoted in Nassau County..

he probably had a court date in Mineola and was interviewed there. The Long Island Press interviewed him on a day the lawyer was in Mineola. The article never said the case is being presented in Nassau County.

My first job was a paperboy for the LI Press. I didn't know it was still in business. I moved from LI 13 years ago. And miss the salt water.

[Book Lover]

7. Oh ... thanks

Ever since they switched Suffolk's area code to 631 on me, I never know what's next. :-) I also moved around 13 or so years ago, and I miss many things, too, including the salt water...

[LiberalVoice]

2. I'll only say this once.

If my testicles ever rupture....Kill me.

[SouthernDem2004]

3. Also:

Suing Taser stating the Taser killed him: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/20/tased_and_confused?pg=4

Not big surprise... I have been sued numerous times. It makes a big splash in the papers sometimes but they never seem to report when the case gets tossed because it was baseless. I love video and audio...

[struggle4progress]

4. So Brookline's holding off on tasers for now, too, eom