NEW CASTLE, Ind. — Henry County jail staffers are at the center of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.
The lawsuit, filed Jan. 31, accuses them of misconduct and harassment of a woman who was arrested during what the lawsuit called a mental health crisis.
Stacy Smith was in the hospital for an evaluation, but according to a police report, the Henry County Sheriff's Department was called when she wouldn't cooperate with medical staff and became disorderly.
Smith was taken to the Henry County Jail on charges of disorderly conduct and intimidation after she threatened an officer.
At the jail is where the lawsuit claims she was made to remove her clothes in front of a security camera in her jail cell. It also alleges she heard jail deputies make lewd and degrading comments about her appearance.
The lawsuit claims some officers shared those images with staff and inmates and she was harassed. It also claims an officer offered to pay another officer to tase her while she was in her jail cell. According to the lawsuit, an officer said, "I don't want to hurt you. I just want to make you cry," in response to Smith shouting.
“Obviously for someone who is already experiencing a mental health crisis, to go through a circumstance like this is devastating and has serious mental health consequences,” said Stevie Pactor, an attorney for ACLU Indiana. “I will say that for so many plaintiffs who go through situations like this, they also just want an acknowledgement that something wrong happened to them. And even better if policy changes come about as a result of bringing it to the attention of folks who are in a position to do something about it.”
13News contacted Henry County Sheriff John Sproles for comment. He said the department was made aware of the lawsuit on Wednesday. However, Sproles declined to comment, saying, "Our county attorney strictly advises us to not make any statements in regard to any possible pending litigation."
Henry County is approximately 50 miles northeast of downtown Indianapolis.