PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia woman alleges that she was wrongly arrested for a road rage incident involving her daughter, denied medical care and as a result, had seizure while in custody.
Angernette Jacobs filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on May 17 versus the City of Philadelphia, Det. James Koenig, Det. Williams, John Doe Medical Staff and a John Doe Police Officer. All parties are of Philadelphia.
“On or about June 11, 2022, plaintiff’s daughter, Alecia Jacobs, was alleged to have been a part of a road rage incident in Philadelphia, PA, at or near the intersection of 17th and Chestnut Streets. During the road rage incident, the alleged victims took pictures of Alecia Jacobs. Admittedly, plaintiff and her daughter look very much alike; however, plaintiff is obviously much older than her daughter. Plaintiff was not on the scene on June 11, 2022, during the alleged road rage incident between her daughter and the alleged victim,” the suit states.
“Based upon information and belief, defendant Koenig interviewed the victims of the alleged road rage incident. Based upon information and belief, defendants Koenig and Williams were given the above-mentioned photographs of Alecia Jacobs by the alleged victims. Based upon information and belief, defendants Koenig and Williams obtained copies of the drivers’ license photographs from PennDOT for both Alicia Jacobs and plaintiff. Defendant Koenig intentionally obtained a false arrest warrant for plaintiff, even though he was in possession of a picture of Alecia Jacobs as the doer of the road rage incident.”
The suit continues that on June 21, 2022, defendant John Doe Police Officers executed a warrant for plaintiff and when she was taken into custody, she informed the John Doe defendants that she had a seizure disorder and needed to take anti-seizure medicine.
“When plaintiff was taken into custody, John Doe defendants refused to allow plaintiff to take anti-seizure medicine and/or bring the anti-seizure medicine with her to the police station. Plaintiff had been seizure-free for approximately a year before the incident. Further, at the time plaintiff was arrested, she was wearing pajamas. Plaintiff asked if she could get dressed before going to the police station and John Doe Police Officers refused to allow her to get dressed. Plaintiff was transported to Police Headquarters at 7th and Race Streets in Philadelphia, PA, for processing. While at the Round House, plaintiff begged for anti-seizure medication from defendant John Doe, but was refused all medication. Further, plaintiff was very cold at the Round House and asked John Doe for a blanket, but was refused,” the suit says.
“Plaintiff had a seizure at the Round House. As a result of the seizure, plaintiff urinated all over herself and the cell. As a result of the seizure, plaintiff suffered severe injuries to her neck, back, shoulders and knees. John Doe refused to offer plaintiff a change of clothing or any medical help regarding the seizure. Plaintiff was embarrassed and humiliated due to the seizure and urinating on herself. Plaintiff asked for medical care for the seizure from John Doe, but was denied medical care. After plaintiff was arraigned, her family transported her from the Round House directly to the hospital.”
For counts of failure to protect and denial of medical care, unconstitutional seizure of a person, malicious prosecution, through 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 and the Fourth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the plaintiff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages against defendants for such sums as would reasonably and properly compensate him for injuries in excess of $150,000, together with delay damages, interest, costs, attorneys’ fees, punitive damages, and declaratory and injunctive relief.
The plaintiff is represented by Brian J. Zeiger of Levin & Zeiger, in Philadelphia.
The defendants have not yet secured legal counsel.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case 2:23-cv-01880
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com