DISCRIMMINATION AGAINST DIABETICS May 23, 2008

DISCRIMMINATION AGAINST DIABETICS

I have had to go to the California State Supreme Court just to have the right to become a SCUBA instructor and prove that it is prejudicial NOT to look at my individual medical history; where as the state of California believed that ALL Diabetics are too much of a health risk to ALL persons in the state! Yes, this was in 1998- just 10 years ago. Now I see many Type 1s and Type 2s (where before they could not even be certified to dive; let alone be an instructor) are enjoying the high risk recreational sport of SCUBA diving and Divers Alert Network/ Duke University did a 15 year study of how a diabetic dive buddy is one of the most reliable and responsible dive buddy you could ever choose!

Now, ten years have passed and I was at a Walgreen's in Torrance/Harbor City, CA. I was on my way to my regular doctor check up just a 1/2 block away. I went in to Walgreen's to pick up glucose tablets and check on a prescription for my insulin. I recall feeling the symptoms of a hypoglecemic reaction- insulin shcok or "low blood sugar". I have had the disease since I was four years old. I am 36 years old today.

Next thing I recall I was at my doctors office in the exam room and two LA SHERIFF Police men were there but no doctor or medical staff was around...

It turns out that the manager and/or the pharmacist that KNEW I AM A DIABETIC due to the many RX of insulin and syringes over the past year; but they called the police and NOT paramedics. LA SHERIFF police showed up and saw me on the floor and throwing toilet paper rolls off a shelf. Survellance video does show me on all fours crawling around trying to find something (food or sugar I would guess knowing myself); not causing harm or threat to anyone or anything except the toilet paper.

The LA Sheriff Dept officers Matt Lincoln and R. Ramirez; chose to ignore my medic alert bracelet around my right arm wrist and surveillance video showed they went thru my purse and wallet- yet itgnored the HUGE card on the outside of my wallet that states :I AM A DIABETIC. No, these officers believed I was a drug addict. The term "PCP" was used quite often once I was coming out of my hypoglecemic reaction.

Somehow I walked up the block to my doctor's office from the Walgreen's while the police were there! This I do not recall. My car was found at the Walgreen's parking lot four days AFTER I was released from jail. I got into the doctor's office and a nurse that recognized me and my symptoms took me into an exam room right away and took my blood glucose level and gave me a box of apple juice and I was able to consume it. It has about 30 grams of carbohydrates; just enough to bring me up from the 19 mgl of my blood glucose level. Whereas; anything UNDER 50 is ER MODE. The cops followed me and found me; these specifications I cannot detail because I was unconcious but physically able to move. It has happened to me before- I actually drove my grandmother around one day when I was 19 years old in Florida and I had no recollection of doing ANYTHING that afternoon! I just went on auto pilot and made it to a doctor's office back then! I have had only four of these type of episodes/total black- out -but -can -drive- or- walk incidents in my lifetime with Type 1 Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM). This was the fourth.

My diabetes had become brittle due to so many factors over the past year. My husband was killed in Afghanistan as a Captain of the Royal British Air Force November 22, 2007 (btw- the same day, NOv 22.. what other wonderful man was killed in Dallas, TX in 1963 NOv 22???)
and I was fine for about 3 months afterwards; but just as most all psychological textbooks have-- delayed emotional depression occurs up to 6 months post tragedy/trauma. And it occurred with me-- couldn't get out of bed; didn't take my multiple daily injections of 6 a day; no food, no exercise; no social communications whatsoever. Never went to work, never paid bills, never did anything and I had no family that cared to help me recover. My parents - my mother- mentally/emotionally ill- bipolar and borderline personality disorder- continues to antagonize me for even marrying a military man.. "You got what you deserved.. He probably isn't dead.. just is hiding from you..." We were married for 7 years and 9 months. Foster parents of four different children over the years. I had to give up the two children we were fostering for 3 months after my husband's death DUE TO ME NOT BEING ALLOWED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM ON MY OWN DUE TO MY DIABETES!!! The only reason we could be foster parents YET NOT ADOPT A US CHILD; was because my husband worked in or near home at all times. When he was deployed in 2006; I was not honest with the social workers; yet the children were just fine with having me as their foster mother for those 3 months. So the depression of losing my husband AND the children were/are too much at times.

NOw this! The doctor- not an endocrinologist; but was my primary care doctor at UCLA-Harbor office; Dr. Theresa Nevarez. She commented to the LA SHERIFF officers "Laura's blood glucsoe level is lower than mine. She is fine. (Turns to look at me;) "Laura you probably just fainted because of the adrenaline and stress of being caught by the police. YOur blood sugar is lower than mine!"

My wits were coming back to me. I focused on this remark a medical doctor had just stated to me-- MY BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL IS LOWER THAN A NON DIABETIC AND SHE HAS NO CLUE TO HOW DANGEROUS THIS IS?!!! It did get up to 73 after 20 minutes post the consumption of the juice box and I was working on a 2nd of glucose tabs I had in my purse that I just purchased at the Walgreen's what seemed moments ago- but was factually about 1 hour prior.

Officer Lincoln was on his radio saying "No, this BITCH is on PCP or something else. .. Yeah I want something big.. no misdemeanor.. something big.. This BITCH tried to get away from me... The BITCH won't answer any of my questions.. Get me a code of a felony, man.. No something BIG.. I want this BITCH to go down!"

In my purse I had a video camera I use with my teaching- yes I am a professor of marine biology at the Catholic University, Loyola Marymount University. I turned it on. It has an auto function to email the video or audio file to my email address when I push the option to do so. I was video taping the officers' name plates on their shirts and I was recording the conversation Matt Lincoln was having over his radio. Ofc Ramirez told me to stop recording. Then I spoke up that I have every right to record anything- Under the new Patriot Act/FISA bill; if I feel I am being threatened or terrorized any agent of the government can record without any permission or due cause. I am an employee of the Dept of Defense- I part time teach at the air force base in lifeguarding and SCUBA instruction every summer.

I said none of this; but I know my rights. I kept recording. Ramirez said they will "take you in if you don't shut that thing off".
I chose not to. I was handcuffed in seconds. My purse was taken and then I was taken to the squad car and smashed into the back. My right hand and wrist were in excrutiating pain because the handcuff was too tight and was cutting of my circulation; also I had a rotator cuff injury on my right shoulder - so being strapped with my hands behind my back was really painful for my whole right side. I kept begging to loosen the handcuffs and Ramirez and Lincoln kept exclaiming "You must be leaning on the cuffs; don't lean on them" And this is while I had my head on my lap with my arms straight up in the air like a YOGA position just to try and relieve my body of the pain. There is no relief when your shackles cut off the blood circulation. The hand went numb and swelled up to 10 times its normal size; 7 hours later I was released from the handcuffs.

For about 2 hours we sat in the car at the doctor office parking lot. Lincoln was going back and forth on the radio trying to get a good charge on me. He got one-- "Fraudulent Prescription Code 4324 (A) BD/P" In the state of California, a person can not have a facsimile of any kind of any medical prescription. This can be filed as a felony or a misdemeanor; it is up to the arresting officer.

I had a Xerox copy of my prescription for insulin and syringes in my wallet for commercial airline security purposes. The originals were used at the pharmacy. I was not charged until 7 hours later- which is known as false arrest/ and held without notification of charges. Same thing the prisoners - foreign prisoners; are going thru at Guntanomo Bay, Cuba under the US Government actions. And now, me, a US citizen, dressed in a FAUX Chanel suit; PhD in marine sciences and a lifelong Type 1 Diabetic; I get arrested for having a copy of my RX of insulin.

I was charged with this felony with a minimum of $20,000.00 bail. It was Memorial Day weekend. My birthday was on May 19; and my husband's Memorial was being broadcast on a CBC and BBC special on BBC America channel. (British Broadcasting Channel and Canadian Broadcasting Channel). I was at the LA Sheriff jail in Carson, CA. I remained handcuffed the whole time I was in the holding cell by myself. My blood glucose level was now going extremely high---a diabetic can feel the symptoms of dehyrdation, constant urination, eyeballs feel like they are going to pop out due to no eye fluid; muscles begin to cramp because the blood can't circulate due to high volumes of glucose are sticking/stopping up the flow of blood throughout the body and arterial flow to the brain is decreased; thus massive headache and emotional crankiness. I imagined I was in the 400s when normals should be 80- to 120... A diabetic can go into a coma in a matter of minutes with too low of a blood glucose level but in a few days or a week; with a high blood glucose level they go into a keotone acidosis coma where the organs are destroyed and the body shuts down. This is irrepairable damage.

My clothes and shoes were taken away. I kept requesting to use a phone. I am a member of the Pre Paid Legal service; that you can call a toll free number or a collect call number. I did not have the numbers with me; but I was hoping someone would be helpful with getting the number out of my purse.

I was arrested once before in California. I was protesting at my campus of California State Univ- Long Beach; at the marine science lab for debarbing the skates/bat rays in the wild due to local merchants stating that they were turning tourists away to the local beaches because ONE person got "stung". They put these animals back into the wild AFTER they took away their only defense mechanism from their predators of sharks and huge crabs found in their environment. This was in 1997; now 11 years later; the population of skates in the area have fallen drastically.. wonder why???

I was arrrested for protesting - among about 30 other students; because we had no permit to protest on private property. It was bargained down because it was known as public/state property. The female jailors at that time were very helpful; let me look in my PDA for numbers. I called about five people then; even called to cancel a recording studio session I had the next day! I was only in a cell for about 4 hours back then. And they handcuffed us all with our hands in our laps NOT around our backs.

Yes, it is now being proven that Officer Matt Lincoln, caucasian male LA Sheriff Dept officer for 1 year; had taken everything personally and to the unprofessional extreme against me.

AT one point at this Carson jail I was being forced by physical abuse and lack of my rights- no use of phone, being handcuffed, taking off all my clothes (I never have and still don't wear underwear or bras) in front of male and female cops and other male prisoners; and thrown up against a brick wall and then thrown down on the floor and stepping on my back several times ALL BECAUSE THEY WANTED ME TO SIGN A FORM STATING I HAD NO MEDICAL PROBLEMS!

"You can leave alot sooner if you sign this form.. You better sign this form... You are going to get into a lot of trouble if you don't sign this form..." Were the warnings from Officer Guzman, male caucasian. I held my ground. I was not going to be forced. I thought- I have no children, no husband, no real responsibilities to anyone; so I don't care what you do to me because I am not effecting anyone by staying in here longer or suffering more. I am here for a reason and I will pray to find out what this reason is.

Then the fingerprinting officer... female , caucasian, hater of all humans, Officer Maher. I forced myself to remember all names with gneumanic devices. Maher was easy because I watch the HBO show "Bill Maher". Nasty and hateful is putting it mildly. She kept smashing my right hand- still swollen and sore from the 7 hours of circulation deprevation; down on this board to take my fingerprints. My hand would not go flat due to the terrible injuries it already had suffered. She took it personally also. "What does this hand hurt or something? Well lets see how THIS FEELS! WHACK!" Slammed down again and I would flinch and she would notice and then she would taunt and make more bullying remarks. And all the while this male officer Guzman was standing there egging HER on; driving her MORE insane against me!!! Inflicting more and more. I don't know if they ever got the full right hand of fingerprints; I blacked out from the pain.

And still NO MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER!

Then I was told I had to be extradited to another location SINCE YOU REFUSE TO SIGN THE MEDICAL WAIVER FORM!!!
I was going to where Paris Hilton was incarcerated for 3 days and 2 nights I was told. "Yeah you Palos Verdes Bitches can all hang out together..." My home address is in a very affluent area. Previously in the squad car at the doctor's office; the arresting officers: Lincoln and Ramirez were making condenscending remarks about people in Palos Verdes Estates. I did try to make conversation with these men while I was "sitting" with my head in my lap. I had taken 3 years of psychology and worked as a pediatric psychologist- Case worker for the county orphanage- home for abandoned and abused children. Now it is closed down and the children were all relocated to Texas and Lousiana.. but now after the hurricanes; who knows where they are now, eh?

I found that Officer Lincoln had NEVER been shot at; but he had fired his gun several times. AH HA.. guy has MAJOR emotional problems and reacts in an extreme and dangerous manner I concluded. And he HATES all women.. even his mother. I asked some leading questions, knowing ALL men LOVE to talk about themselves; whereas women seem to be a bit apprehensive to do so with any stranger. Mostly Lincoln spoke about how he became an officer because he "needed to". I asked if it was to help his community and both officers sarcastically laughed and made such remarks.

The stereotypical racist, misongyinstic cops seen in almost every movie about such. So it is NOT a Hollywood contrived character!!!

Around 9pm, no food, no water, no phone call, no medical assistance; I was sent to the Century City LA Sheriff Jail. There was a payphone in this holding cell with about 20 women. Yes, mostly black and Latin women. I was the only caucasian.

What was so remarkable was the compassion all these women had for any new person that walked thru the barred gated doors. One girl was crying in my arms because this was her third arrest for using some drug. I know she told me but I can't remember if it was crack or heroin. All these young women seemed to have the same environment of being beaten down at home and in their community. Typecast as worthless and useless; so they grow up not knowing anything better for themselves. And the vicious cycle continues. I was a Big Sister in Miami with a young girl that lived in the projects of South Florida. From age 9 to 15 I was her mentor and she would get in to trouble at school and then she would resolve her problems. Eventhough her guardian; her grandmother- her mother was a crack addict and no longer with the family; and she was the eldest of 8 siblings. All had different fathers. Her grandmother would BEAT THIS GIRL up just because she was reading her library books OUT LOUD or late at night. Reading was the Devil's work; her grandmother would tell her. Her grandmother worked two jobs all day and this 9 year old had to take care of all the kids and sometimes would skip school if the baby could not be taken care of by some aunt down the street.

I was told the mother was forced to have her tubes tied after the 7th child and if she was on welfare. It is now mandatory after five children. You have a choice- go off welfare or get your tubes tied.

Same system in all communistic and socialistic countries-- if you take government funds; they can tell you how many children you can have. The US even enforces abortions-- Republican policy. If you are mentally ill or on welfare; they enforce abortions.

My- I have gotten off topic, eh? ;-)

But here it all is- forget about reading or viewing a movie about it.. this is how the "other half" lives; all in a microcism here in the Century City Jail!

I was able to only call by collect call. I called my parents in Arizona. My mother hung up on me because she could not believe I was arrested for being a diabetic so I must be lying and don't ever shame the family again!

I called back and was going to beg my mother to look up the Pre Paid Legal phone number and give it to me. She did do this the second time I called. It was 11pm PST. PrePaid Legal called a bailbondsmen.

I was told later; that the bailbondsmen had my bail paid at midnight that same night and a taxi was waiting for me outside the jail to take me home. I was not released until May 27, 2008 at 6pm. MOnday of Memorial Day. A taxi was there. I was taken to the Carson jail to get my purse. All my money and video camera were missing. Ah, but the cops did not realize I videotaped and sent it all to my email address that instant I recorded it!

I got to my car and went home to my four recently rescued cats. In the past year; 2 cats in the area came to my door at different times and I rescued one from death at the local shelter. YES I AM 'THE OLD WIDOWED LADY ON THE HILL WITH ALL THE CATS..." Another stereotype, eh?

I got my crimminal attorney on Tuesday. Went to the urgent care clinic that Monday night to look at my hand; but mostly because I wanted to get a full on illegal drug test because I knew; after what I had been thru and what I witnessed in jail- that I was going to court and sue everyone and anything. Then I calmed down of course;-)

I observed a bipolar woman who was softly repeating the word HELP over and over again for hours; just sitting on the bench in the jail area where we all were; handcuffed to the bench; where we all were not. Then 3 male officers and two female officers held her down and put a black plastic bag over her head while she was still handcuffed and kept yelling at her to SHUT UP. She was struggling to breathe. One female cop was videotaping the whole thing! A small camera like I had.. could it have been mine??? I didn't know mine was taken until I was released. Also the jewelry they took off me and my medic alert bracelet was all missing too. I had an extra at home. The crucifix made of emeralds which my husband gave to me 2007 birthday was gone.

Other incidents: Myself and another woman were smashed to the concrete ground when we did not follow a yellow line when we were marched into a shower area. I just didn't pay attention and walked the direct route instead of following this yellow line on the floor that serpentined all the way around. So I was physically punished for this.

And all the while- I had missed 27 injections of insulin. Taking 6 every day and more if my blood glucose is too high. I chose not to eat any food- all they gave was cold bread and peanut butter packet with milk- hot milk. I would drink the milk- but that is high in carbs too- shoots the blood glucose way up. I was presuming I was in the 600s or more the whole time.

I got my purse with my glucometer in it and checked- it would not register. The glucometer only goes up to 520! I injected 40 units of humalog and waited. When I was at urgent care clinic; found their X Ray machine was not working; so they could not look at my hand; but could tell it was broken so they put a cast on it. My blood glucose level dropped to 320 an hour after taking the Humalog. I made sure I was tested for PCP and all other drugs that are mood modifying substances- legal or illegal. I came out negative for everything.

I met with my crimminal attorney, Frank Rorie. Looks just like Hugh Downs from the 20/20 TV show. He said my charge became a felony due to me being at a pharmacy so I could use my "false prescription" or be seen to have intention to use it.
Yet, it was agreed that this was all horrible injustice.

A month later we appear for a hearing; previously the LA Sheriff Dept requested my medical records proving I was a diabetic and I take insulin. All that was sent over. The hearing was just of a retired police officer. The evidence the LA Sheriff had was that I wrote in on my copy of my prescription: "syringes". The handwriting was NOT mine and was obvious it was written in OVER the copy of my RX. The hearing officer stated that all the officers had to do was to request a sample of my hand writing. The officer's report did not have anything about the Walgreen's but the arrest was initiated at the doctor's office and statement by my EX doctor; " That is not my handwriting.. no I did not write that prescription for Laura.. I do not know if she is a diabetic..."

Yeah- some doctor, eh? Many lies and false information that is so easy to document and receive facts to display the lies of the doctor and the LA SHERIFF officers, Lincoln and Ramirez and Dr. Theresa Nevarez.

LA Sheriff Dept chose NOT TO FILE any charge due to lack of evidence BUT , I was warned several times; but hearing officer William C. Ellis; that they have 5 to 7 years TO FILE A CHARGE AGAINST ME IF I WAS THINKING TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT!!! He couldn't recall the term or restriction. I was told by Mr. William C. Ellis: "You are like a heroin addict or alcoholic. If you can't be responsible for your diabetes; then you should not go out in public. We have this file on you now; so next time you will serve a term. Oh and I see you were arrested before. This can easily be changed to something like prostitution, you know...."

My crimminal attorney, Frank Rorie; mandated that I DO NOT file any civil charges and "just see this as a bad experience and shut up about it and MOVE ON WITH YOUR LIFE..."

I stayed at home for over a month. Did not go to work, Did not go to my doctor appointments. Did not drive my car. I was afraid I would be arrested for ANYTHING. I ordered all my groceries to be delivered and squandered away my savings on such. Watched Comedy Central and slept. My hand was hurting so much; I finally went out- with a taxi.. and slowly went back to work and out in public. I received a phone call from a Diabetes magazine just doing an update on my story of 2 years ago of what a great athlete and diabetic I am.... I did NOT mention my recent horrific experience.

It was when I called to find a new medical doctor and spoke to the Dept of Quality Assurance of Medical Practioners and the phone represenative told me her grand daughter just got diagnosed with Type 1 at age 13 and if I don't go and tell my story and seek justice what future does her grand daughter have....

So I called Pre Paid Legal; and got a referral for a Michael C Braun as a civil attorney. He has taken me on contigency. We only have six months to file a complaint against a government agency. It is September 18, 2008 and I have not heard from Mr. Braun since August 28, 2008.

Did the LA Sheriff Dept get to him too???

I found with my crimminal records research that my 1997 arrest is now listed as PROSTITUTION! I called the crimminal attorney- oh he cost me $3200.00 for pretty much NOTHING; never returns my phone calls. Paid $2,000.00 in bail and never get it back and the bail bondsmen was requiring me to show up EVERY WEEK to prove I did not leave the state and then when I refused to do so- this Rapido Bail Bondsmen started calling my work number and my PARENTS in Arizona (I guess they did a phone search) and then he verbally threatened me that I WILL PUT YOU BACK IN JAIL!!! I asked my crimminal attorney, Frank Rorie , "take care of this harassment please". Mr. Rorie said "I can't be bothered with this.. you should have used my bailbondsmen..."

Yeah, on May 23, 2008 I KNEW I had to have Frank Rorie's name in my head??!!!

So the battle is still going on. I have made calls to Michael Braun and told I will get a call back today. I am thinking if I expose information NOW to publications and ask they HOLD on it until I can get some kind of settlement; so then if I sign any waiver saying I will NOT discuss POST settlement- well legally I did it PREVIOUS to settlement. And it is all posted here too.

I am doing PREVIOUS to any settlement and legal actions.

Main lesson here is: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS and USE THEM. My husband was slaughtered to uphold the US Constitution and many more before him. And if US Citizens do not utilize and enforce these rights; then why did any of these citizens die???

If it be; some bully in your neighborhood keeps blocking your driveway and you choose to do some illegal action or just move away as a passive person; then you DESERVE NO JUSTICE OR SYMPATHY. Many have suffered in the past to give you freedom today. From Rosa Parks to Robert F. Kennedy. If laws are not enforced and the expose and investigation of government agencies who abuse their powers and violate the laws are not brought to justice; then this is NOT America paved by Americans. It has become a fascist country. A dictatorship. Nothing to be proud of here in America; if the American citizens don't realize that they MUST take the time out of their busy life and make sacrifices to seek justice for ALL.

For foriegn prisoners of this Iraq war and to the diabetic woman living up on the hill. WE ARE OUR BROTHER"S KEEPER and WE ARE A DEMOCRACY. United we stand and divided WE HAVE ALREADY FALLEN!

End the discrimmination of diabetics - that videotape you calling her a PCP addict!!! :-)