Suit: Diabetic Refused Insulin In NW Side Police Lockup
CHICAGO (STMW) - A diabetic man is suing the city after officers at a Northwest Side police station allegedly refused to give him access to his insulin, causing him to become unconscious.
Candido Montano Jr. claims he was hospitalized July 20 after becoming unconscious at the Grand Central District police lockup after officers would not allow him an insulin shot, according to a suit filed in U.S. District Court.
The suit claims Montano was arrested for possession of cannabis outside his mother's home in the 2000 block of North Pulaski Rd. and took him to the station at 5555 W. Grand Ave. to issue a ticket.
Montano claims he told the arresting officers he was an insulin-dependent diabetic and would need an injection in three hours. He told multiple officers in the lockup that he needed his injection, who ignored his request.
More than two hours after his scheduled injection Montano began vomiting, according to the suit. When he told the lockup keeper what was happening, the officer allegedly said, "I'll call an ambulance when you're dead" and walked away, the suit said.
An ambulance arrived after Montano became unconscious on the lockup floor and it took him more than a week to recover, according to the suit. He missed several days of work and incurred about $5,000 in hospital bills, the suit said.
The suit claims the officers told Montano he was arrested to meet a quota and all charges were later dropped.
The five-count suit claims failure to provide medical care, false arrest, intentional infliction of emotional distress and indemnification. Montano is seeking unspecified damages from the City of Chicago and the unidentified officers.
The city's Department of Law was not immediately available for comment.
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