County facing another lawsuit

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Thursday, March 4. 2010

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A legally disabled probationer has announced her intent to sue the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Corrections as a result of alleged misconduct related to an October 2009 incident.

Lisa Patterson, 44, has retained Phillip Holloway of the Cobb County law firm of Leonard, Rickman and Holloway to represent her.

Holloway said he is currently investigating what he describes as “shocking” behavior on the part of authorities.

“When the government takes some action against a citizen, it is obligated to do so in a responsible manner,” he said.

Holloway said he will not know what claims will be filed or which remedies will be sought until his investigation is complete.

“We will pursue whatever claims she may have against any appropriate party,” he said.

“What they did to her was beyond the pale of appropriate human interaction,” Holloway added. “She was on probation, but even probationers deserve to be treated with basic human dignity and respect.”

ALLEGED MISCONDUCT
On Oct. 8, 2009, Patterson was detained for two and a half hours in her Dee Kennedy Road home while probation officers searched the house for drugs. The officers, acting on an anonymous tip, also detained Patterson’s 18-year-old son. While in handcuffs, Patterson began having seizures. Patterson said her son attempted to help her, but was stopped by probation officers.

During the search, officers found marijuana residue and drug paraphernalia in the home and charged Patterson with misdemeanor possession of marijuana – a charge she said was later dismissed.

A Barrow County Sheriff’s deputy was then called to transport Patterson to the detention center.

According to the incident report, the deputy was notified by one of the probation officers that Patterson needed medical treatment. The deputy requested a med unit respond to the scene.

Patterson said the probation officers informed paramedics that she was using crack cocaine and faking the seizures. According to the incident report, the med unit staff evaluated Patterson and could find nothing wrong. Patterson said no treatment was rendered despite the fact that she repeatedly requested access to her anti-seizure medications.

Once the med unit left, the deputy transported Patterson to the detention center. Patterson, who normally uses a wheelchair due to neurological damage caused by lupus, was only allowed to take a cane with her, she said.

After detention center personnel refused to accept Patterson due to her medical condition, the deputy released Patterson on a citation. In the report, the deputy indicated he drove around to the front lobby area, issued Patterson a citation for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and “had Patterson get out of my patrol car and sign her citation. I then released Patterson and continued on patrol.”

Patterson, who suffers from lupus, cancer and other medical conditions, claims she was not allowed to call for assistance and ultimately had to borrow a cell phone from a passerby in order to obtain help after being “abandoned” in the parking lot of the courthouse.

COMPLAINTS FILED
After filing complaints, Patterson said she received an apology from both the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office and Barrow County Emergency Services for their part in the incident.

Patterson also filed a complaint with the Georgia Department of Corrections. She presented her complaint at an internal affairs hearing on Feb. 4. Patterson met with investigators for two hours and presented over 100 pages of documents related to her case.

Patterson was notified last week that the investigation had been concluded, but has not yet been notified of the results.

Peggy Chapman, public information officer for the Department of Corrections, confirmed the investigation has been closed but declined to release any details claiming the records had been declared “privileged and confidential” and exempt from the Open Records Act under state law.

ONGOING ISSUES
Since the 2009 incident, Patterson said her health has continued to deteriorate due to the stress caused by the ordeal and the subsequent aftermath. Patterson’s social security payments have also been suspended due to the fact that one of the probation officers secured a warrant against her for probation violation and then failed to withdraw it after Judge June Davis dismissed the charges. Patterson said the financial loss will leave her destitute since she is unable to work as a result of her serious health problems.

Patterson, an honor roll student with a degree in criminal justice, said she believes her treatment at the hands of the Department of Corrections and the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office was ethically wrong.

“My life was going along just fine until this happened,” she said. “They had no right to do what they did.”

Patterson hopes that the courts will redress her complaint and make it possible for her life to return to some semblance of normalcy.

“My main concern is that this doesn’t happen to anyone else,” she said.

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#1 Annie Omus on 03/04/10 at 08:21 AM [Reply]

Glad to hear the officers acted on the tip of drugs and searched the home. It's a hot spot for drugs and pills on Dee Kennedy between Braselton Highway and Fleeman Rd. They need to patrol the area more often; most notably between Thonas Drive and Fleeman Rd.

#1.1 Odins Eye on 03/04/10 at 12:22 PM [Reply]

Annie, you must not have read the story.
Or maybe your just an idiot. or even a Nazi zealot.
You condone the abusive treatment of a fellow citizen based on a tip. A tip that the authorities are more than willing to use force, even deadly force, to achieve their goal, all in the name of a illegitimate drug war.
Mama Ganga was put on this earth by the Gods.
For mankinds use and enjoyment.

You are doing just what Hitler had the citzens of 1930s Germany do. Informing on your neighbors.
Absolutely sickening behaivour, this country truly is in sad shape.

What you wish on your neighbors, will one day be at your door.
.
.
.

Odin

#2 K on 03/04/10 at 01:02 PM [Reply]

Another scumbag probationer looking to deflect blame from the real source of her failures. Patterson needs to take a good look in the mirror to see what is causing her all of her problems. Her bottom feeding attorney needs to understand that "appropriate human interaction" should start with his idot client not getting on probation in the first place, then she wouldnt be put back in jail to begin with.

The convict says "my life was going just fine until this happened". Yeah...it sounds like it. Probationer.

#2.1 What's Right ?? on 03/04/10 at 09:09 PM [Reply]

And if she wins money will it be used to pay back the Social Security System for money she has received from the Government ???? Just asking........

#2.2 Justiceforall on 03/05/10 at 01:44 PM [Reply]

Your pretty iqnorant, are you not? Does that mean everyone who is or has been on probation or parole a scumbag? I am sure you who are so perfect have never made a mistake or maybe you just did not get caught?Seems like to me she was trying to do the right thing and taking care of her kids so the state wouldn't have to.Geez it says she was honor roll college student in criminal justice! She was better trained then the officers that assaulted her.They found no drugs anyway. Ever cancer patient I know has or does smoke pot just to be able to live. And since when is it okay to go outside of Barrow county's jurisdiction, bring three BC agencies to a Gwinnett county citizen's house way out of jurisdiction. But guess you havent heard of things like the Law, the U.S. Constitution, Bill or Rights or simple human decency or morals? Those officers should have to go to jail and be on probation, that would be justice.

#2.2.1 You are a liar! on 03/05/10 at 06:42 PM [Reply]

"...officers found marijuana residue and drug paraphernalia in the home and charged Patterson with misdemeanor possession of marijuana..."

#2.2.2 Anonymous on 03/05/10 at 09:05 PM [Reply]

My father in law has cancer... probably gonna die from it... and even though I sometimes wish he would smoke pot to cool his jets, he doesn't because it is ILLEGAL, IMMORAL, and it doesn't set a good example for his grand kids. Pot is a cop out.

Stop pretending that there is a justification for it.

This entire situation is a cop out... If someone is that sick and needy then seek help/treatment, not a tide-me-over.

Moreover, stop crying wolf and blaming everyone else for your own shortcomings.

She is on probation because at some point she decided to take a short cut in life, that means that the trade off for that short cut is that her private life is subject to the scrutiny of law enforcement.

Perhaps if she has soooooooooooooooooooooooo many issues, she should have TOWED THE LINE BEFORE SHE WAS ARRESTED INITIALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am tired of hearing this sort of BS and I am even more tired of paying for it. Don't get put on probation, then you don't have to worry about the po-po's causing a seizure.

#2.2.3 K on 03/05/10 at 11:40 PM [Reply]

Wow...where to start...Let’s start with the very first sentence and go through them:

"Your pretty iqnorant, are you not?"

First word "your" should be "you're". That’s called a contraction. I doubt you knew that. If you Google “how to use a contraction” you will find some helpful information so that you don’t look quite as uneducated in the future. “Iqnorant” is not a recognized word in the English language. Perhaps you meant “ignorant”. So, to answer your question, no I’m not. I know how to properly use a contraction and I can spell the word “ignorant”.

“Does that mean everyone who is or has been on probation or parole a scumbag?”

Yes, it does. Everyone on probation or parole has proven by past behavior that they have difficulty abiding by the rules like the rest of us. Those individuals obviously need guidance and supervision to help them become stable, productive members of society.

“I am sure you who are so perfect have never made a mistake or maybe you just did not get caught?”

Of course I’m not perfect, but thank you for thinking so. However, I have no criminal record, unlike the convicted probationer profiled in this article.

“Seems like to me she was trying to do the right thing and taking care of her kids so the state wouldn't have to.”

An admirable endeavor to be sure, however, she obviously wasn’t doing the right thing when she was arrested, convicted and sentenced to probation, now was she? I wonder how Mommy explains her criminal past to her kids…

“Geez it says she was honor roll college student in criminal justice! She was better trained then the officers that assaulted her.”

Do you personally know the officers involved? I doubt it. The article also says the officers found marijuana and drug paraphernalia in her residence. If you are going to accept one portion of the article as Gospel truth, you need to accept all information presented as Gospel truth. Let’s not forget that this “honor roll” student is a convicted criminal with a criminal record. Also, it could be that she pursued degree in criminal justice so that the knowledge she gained would make her a better informed criminal and help her continued her life of crime. If that’s the case, she apparently failed miserably; evidenced by the fact that she is a convicted criminal on probation.

“They found no drugs anyway.”

Please reread the part of the article that states the officers did in fact find marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The article states marijuana residue, however, any amount is illegal in the state of Georgia.

“Ever cancer patient I know has or does smoke pot just to be able to live.”

Perhaps you meant to say “every” cancer patient. Regardless, Georgia law does not provide an exception for the legal use of marijuana for medical purposes. Any amount, for any reason, is a crime. If “ever” cancer patient you know uses “pot”, then “ever” cancer patient you know is a criminal, which means you support and associate with criminals.

“And since when is it okay to go outside of Barrow county's jurisdiction, bring three BC agencies to a Gwinnett county citizen's house way out of jurisdiction.”

I’m not quite certain what that babbling, incoherent statement is supposed to mean, but if you are complaining about Barrow County deputies going to a citizens home in Gwinnett county, you are probably not aware that under Georgia Law, a Sheriff’s Deputy has statewide jurisdiction. Also, certain Barrow County deputies are part of task forces set up to combat crimes that may take them outside of Barrow County. Again, they are operating well within the limits of state and federal law.

“But guess you havent heard of things like the Law, the U.S. Constitution, Bill or Rights or simple human decency or morals?”

Actually I have. Judging from your written response and open support of convicted criminals and criminal activity, I’m fairly certain you yourself could use some education in those areas.

“Those officers should have to go to jail and be on probation, that would be justice.”

Those officers were simply doing their job. They were doing the job that the convicted criminal on probation created for them. If this convict, who is currently on probation, would clean up her act, and stop smoking “pot”; that, my misguided friend, would be justice.

#2.2.3.1 Anonymous on 03/06/10 at 10:28 AM [Reply]

GREAT STUFF K. Love the part about using contractions. I'm pretty sure that entire piece went flying straight over Justice for all's head, but it made me chuckle.

:0)

#2.2.3.1.1 Are you kidding? on 03/10/10 at 10:28 AM [Reply]

Ditto for me too! Very good reading...

#2.2.3.2 Truth on 03/29/10 at 11:54 AM [Reply]

First, Holloway is a top-notch attorney who began as a police office and Sheriff's deputy. He is no "bottom-feeder" and his clients are among the best people in Georgia. Secondly, he is quite well-informed about corruption in North Georgia. Even his own brother was targeted by corrupt officials there. He doesn't rely on lame excuses and false claims by moron cops. 1 in 3 people arrested in North Georgia are innocent of any crime.

#3 HUMM>> on 03/05/10 at 09:43 PM [Reply]

I bet no one thought to ask what this Patterson lady was on Probation for. When one is on State Probation, that would mean a felony conviction, So what Felony did this felon commit? A criminal Justice degree is easy to achieve online, but to actually put it into practice is another thing in itself. So before you jump the officers, look into her past and her felony conviction. You too might have a change of heart, its open records to find out why she's on Probation. Lets see who will do their research.

#4 America? on 03/06/10 at 11:01 AM [Reply]

Last time I checked this was America isn't it? So we can give due process (remember what that is?) to terroists but we can't give it to our own citizens. Wow! Barrow county has enough problems without having to go to another county to pick up some more. You could go on felony probation for writing a bad check. I am sure that is what those officers said who came into that 92 year old womans house on an "anonymous tip" and blew her away. Or those firefighters who let that woman burn to death.They were just doing their job. Face it, we live in a country where EVERYONE should follow the laws. I think it took courage to stand up to those who have so much power over someone. Maybe before anyone starts making assumptions all the evidence is heard. Why hasn't the officers or the sheriff, the department of corrections or anyone on that side speak up for themselves? If they are so guiltless they should come forward. Over 15 million people are on felony probsation/parole in our country. If it was up to you, I guess we should kill them all. Who made you judge, jury and executioner? Should we go back to lynchings and public hangings on the courthouse lawn? We will all know the truth when it goes to court, in the meantime lets all try to remember this is 2010.

#5 glasshouses on 03/06/10 at 11:17 AM [Reply]

What should we expect? It takes longer to learn how to cut hair than to be a cop. A ged age 18 you can work at the jail, 21 you get a gun and patrol car. Knowing how to read must not be a criteria because there is a sign on that road which states, "Entering Gwinnett County". That would of been a clue. Like you above, guess you couldn't read the "charge dismissed" part. Ever heard of innocent until proven guilty? People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

#6 angry victim on 03/10/10 at 09:32 AM [Reply]

I do not doubt for a second that Barrow County is innocent. My family as well was a victim of Barrow County abuse, and unreasonable use of extreme force. The Barrow County authorities abuse their power and know nothing of serving or protecting. I guess Barrow officers did not have to learn the code of ethics or honor. I am a current criminal justice student and was very excited about my career. Until I witnessed barrow county officers in action. Officers abused an innocent person beat them as well as verbally abused them; they were treated like a criminal. Although, criminals should not even be treated the way my family member was. With this experience, I have wanted to change my career to an undercover, which convicts bad cops. I cannot reveal too many details, but I am sure it will not be long before you are able to read all about it in the Barrow county paper.

#7 angry victim on 01/04/11 at 12:19 AM [Reply]

To all, this does happen it's called bad cops. As I have commented befor it wont be long before you will read about these officers doing the same thing to a non probationar. Someone with no history in the same age range.

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