The mother of a mentally ill man in Bamberg County, South Carolina, is suing after her son was seriously injured by an employee at the Bamberg County Detention Center, according to a lawsuit recently filed.
Angela Middleton, the mother of Ephram Tieresias, filed a lawsuit against Bamberg County, South Carolina, on March 12. Ephram suffers from chronic mental disorders, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, psychosis, delusions, hallucinations and paranoia.
On March 15, 2019, Ephram was arrested at the Bamberg County Detention Center after being charged with shoplifting. Prison officials put Ephram in handcuffs while removing him from his cell, according to the lawsuit.
Ephram, suffering from a schizophrenic crisis, did not want to re-enter the cell, the suit said.
Bamberg County Detention Center employee Issac Jackson then he used excessive force in an attempt to move Ephram back to his cell, the lawsuit said.
Jackson threw Ephram, who was still handcuffed, headfirst at a window and then at the door of a cell, the lawsuit said.
Ephram’s head was opened and he was transported to the hospital, the suit said.
The surveillance video recorded the entire incident.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) agents investigated the incident and concluded that Jackson used excessive force. He was accused of misconduct in office.
Days after the incident, a judge ruled that Ephram was mentally incompetent and unable to stand trial.
Rep. Justin Bamberg is representing Middleton in the process. While Justin Bamberg’s father Kenneth Bamberg is now the Bamberg County Sheriff, the Bamberg County Detention Center is administered by Bamberg County, so there is no conflict of interest in this case.
“The staff at the Detention Center knew that Mr. Ephram was a vulnerable citizen who suffered from serious and long-standing mental illnesses. He was totally restrained, handcuffed and helpless, ”said Justin Bamberg. “When this young man needed treatment, help and understanding, he was open-minded because someone got tired of his illness.”
Middleton is suing for serious negligence, assault and battery, intentional imposition of emotional distress and violations of the South Carolina State Constitution.
“America means nothing without our civil rights as citizens, “said Justin Bamberg.” Violating those rights will never be OK, and will absolutely never be tolerated here, as far as I am concerned. We are better than that. “
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Mandy Matney is the news director at FITSNews. She is an award-winning Kansas journalist who worked for newspapers in Missouri, Illinois and South Carolina before moving to FITS. She currently lives on Hilton Head Island, where she enjoys life on the beach. Do you want to get in touch with Mandy? Send your story ideas, comments, suggestions and tips to [email protected].
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