A Black man visiting the town of Freeport, Illinois had one of the worst travel experiences ever after he became ill from pneumonia and got arrested outside the hospital he was admitted to!
24-year-old Shaquille Dukes has contacted an attorney to seek justice after he says he was racially profiled and arrested with an IV attached to his arm while walking outside of the hospital under doctor’s orders. Dukes took to Facebook to explain that he was on vacation and leave from probation when he decided to visit the town of Freeport.
According to his Facebook post, Dukes says he was admitted into the hospital for double pneumonia and “after receiving doctors orders to walk around, I was stopped by an overzealous, racist, security officer, who claimed that I ‘was trying to leave the hospital to sell the IV equipment on eBay.’ After a brief conversation, the guard called the police, I was advised by Sgt. Jeff Zalaznik, badge number 116, that I was being arrested for attempted theft, of the IV equipment that was clearly attached to my arm.”
He added that he and his brother were both arrested despite explaining to the officer he was at the hospital for treatment.
“My brother was arrested, and then me. Under the direction of Sgt Zalaznik, officers stood by and watched while my IV was removed on the sidewalk, and it was NOT by a doctor. I told the Sgt I was being treated for pneumonia and asthma, and his words were ‘I don’t care why you’re here, you’re going to jail’.”
Dukes also claims he suffered a seizure and an asthma attack during the arrest.
“They took my rescue inhaler and began to transport me to the city lockup, while in transit I began to have a seizure, and subsequently an asthma attack, I pleaded with officers for almost 4 minutes to retrieve my inhaler from the transporting officer, and finally, when I became unresponsive, it miraculously appeared.”
Meanwhile, the cops claim he was arrested because of “conduct toward the security officer and the police officers once they arrived.”. the Journal Standard reports. However, they have yet to explain why he was stopped by police in the first place. Freeport police Lt. Andrew Schroeder defended the officer’s actions.
“The issue here is that his actions were why he was arrested. Had they been able to engage in a civil discourse with hospital security, we wouldn’t have been called at all. As far as the video goes, all you are seeing is a snippet of a longer incident. I think people need to be careful about rushing to judgment against the police without all the information.”
Dukes has been charged with disorderly conduct and is scheduled to appear in court on July 11.
Take a look at the video below.
