Visitor Trapped Inside Cook County Jail For 32 Hours Files Lawsuit
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Chicago man trapped inside a visiting room at Cook County Jail for 32 hours is suing the county.
51-year-old Farad Polk says he pounded on the door. And prayed. And slept. And wasn't sure he would ever get out of the visiting room at the jail.
Visitor Trapped Inside Cook County Jail For 32 Hours Files Lawsuit
"You're not going to see your grandkids and faces and people you love. And didn't get a chance to say goodbye."
Polk's lawsuit says Cook County was negligent and that county personnel wilfully and wantonly deprived him of food, water and a toilet for 32 hours.
Cannon Lambert, attorney for Farad Polk, says after Polk broke off a fire sprinkler head to get someone to respond, he was handcuffed.
"When the fire department came and let him out, he was put in handcuffs and was questioned," said Lambert. "We have problems with that."
Polk's attorney implied jail staffers might have left him there on purpose.
"He could hear voices of guards on the other side of the door. Presumably, if he could hear them, they could hear him," Lambert said.
Jail officials flatly reject that. Cook County Jail Executive Director Cara Smith says they are very sorry for what happened and she says the jail is still investigating who's responsible.
"Anyone that's identified as failing to perform their job duties that precipitated this will be disciplined severely," Smith said.
Smith says the jail has put more checks and balances in place to monitor visitors.
