GALVESTON - Complaining that two Houston area law enforcement agencies did not tend to his medical needs while in their custody, Samuel Mayo is seeking $5 million.
A lawsuit filed Oct. 19 in the Houston federal court alleges Mayo informed the Pasadena Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff's Department after his May 17, 2010, arrest for driving while intoxicated that he suffers from diabetes, but they ignored the signs and symptoms associated with the illness.
PPD and the HCSD assumed the complainant was drunk at the wheel without first considering he was exhibiting signs of poor health, court papers point out.
The suit claims the plaintiff was mistreated while he was locked up at the Pasadena City Jail as jailers did not feed him or give him his medication.
Mayo adds officers yelled at and threatened him as well as "made (him) to feel as if the police officers would beat him."
He cooperated during his time in PPD custody "because of his fear of being brutalized or killed by police officer(s)."
The plaintiff further alleges being sexually abused and several of his personal effects either going missing or having been thrown away.
According to the original petition, Mayo paid bond only to be transferred to the Harris County Jail for a lengthy stay he labeled as "cruel punishment."
It states the respondents tampered with his medication "so that he could have problems when he left jail having to wonder if it was okay to take his medication."
Mayo argues the subject ordeal caused his medical condition to stabilize and blood pressure to increase to a "problematic" level for his heart condition, which put him at risk for strokes and heart attacks.
The professional and chemical dependency counselor fears he may lose his licenses and other certifications to practice if handed down a conviction, the suit says.
Blood tests taken at the time of Mayo's arrest later revealed the complainant had no drugs or alcohol in his system, however, the defendants apparently did not make him aware of this information.
Mayo concludes he faced legal ranklement "for no reason."
Consequently, he seeks $5 million in damages.
The plaintiff is representing himself.
Case No. 4:12-cv-3123
Suit alleges law enforcement officers ignored man's diabetes
