Former Lake Region inmate claims he was kept in cell without toilet or running water during medical emergency
Jul. 1—A former Lake Region Law Enforcement Center inmate is suing the jail, its administrator, its nursing staff and a number of correctional officers after he claims they failed to give him proper medical care in 2019, resulting in his "suffering and permanent injury," a federal complaint alleges.
Roger Heinle, 50, resided in the jail on Sept. 6, 2019, when he complained to a nurse that he was unable to urinate, according to the complaint. The complaint goes on to state that Heinle told the nurse, identified as Tammie Roed, that he had passed kidney stones the day before, but records allegedly show that Roed did not believe him.
The following day, Lt. Joylynn Deshaw wrote that at 11:47 p.m., Heinle had been "brought up due to not being able to urinate, nurse Tammie is aware." Deshaw also noted that Heinle urinated about three times and was placed on a medical watch with 30-minute checks and 24-hour observation.
Deshaw also reported that Heinle was refusing to drink water, according to the complaint, and that he insisted that there was a blockage. Roed urged him to drink more water to flush his system, and when he asked for a catheter, she told him one was not necessary at that time, the complaint alleges.
On Sept. 8, Heinle was given an ice pack, and Roed decided to seek a urinary analysis from a hospital on Monday, Sept. 9, the complaint states.
Heinle attended a court hearing that Monday, where the judge noticed that Heinle was "not right" and asked about his circumstances.
"Heinle answered that he had urologic issues, was being held in a holding cell with no toilet or running water, has been unable to properly urinate, and although the 'nurse keeps saying that she's aware,' he was in a great deal of pain and needed proper medical care," the complaint reads.
The judge granted Heinle a personal recognizance bond and he was released to receive medical care. His parents took him to the Trinity Health emergency room in Minot, where he was found to be hypotensive, tachycardic and septic, according to the complaint. He was diagnosed with gram-positive sepsis, urinary retention, acute renal failure due to obstructive uropathy and thrombocytopenia. He was started on IV rehydration, IV ceftazidime and a catheter was inserted.
The complaint names Lake Region Law Enforcement Center, Deshaw, Roed, Dr. Jacquelyn Downs, Sgt. Justin Smith, director Rob Johnson, and John and Jane Does 1 through 10, who are described as unknown correctional officers who may have had contact with Heinle during his alleged ordeal.
Heinle will sue for damages for denial of due process right to adequate medical care. The complaint also accuses Rob Johnson and Lake Region Law Enforcement Center of failing to properly train its employees, and accuses Lake Region Law Enforcement Center, Roed and Downs of medical malpractice.
The complaint was filed in federal court on June 16. The defendants have yet to formally respond to the accusations.
