Thanks for posting the information on the blog. It’s nice to get the information out to the public.
Here’s another story aka cover up for you. As per the usual when it comes to any high profile incident, this occurred and nothing was disseminated or briefed.
Here’s a link to the story. It’s all I could find.
In 2013, there was an in custody death of an individual named Paul Tortorella.
Tortorella was a local transient known to the jail staff for being a drug addict with psychological problems due to his drug use. If jail deputies were familiar with Tortorella, the patrol deputies from the Thermal Station should have been familiar with him too. His usual offense was drug related, and I can not recall him ever being in custody for anything other than drugs.
Now let me fill in the story from the inside. The part the Department conveniently left out of the Department Press Release about Paul’s death.
Tortorella was arrested on a day where the high temperature was 108, and he was under the influence. So, the deputy should have taken these things into consideration and kept a close eye on him. When he was arrested by a Coachella P.D officer. aka a Thermal Station Deputy, Tortorella was in an area known for transients and drug use. According to the press release he was arrested around 5 pm, but died at John F. Kennedy Hospital, around 7:40 pm. What happened between his arrest and death?
Here’s the part of the story that fills in the missing time, but was conveniently left out of the Department Press Release. The deputy brought Tortorella to the Indio Jail to book him in for his misdemeanor drug offense. Prior to entering the jail all arrestees are screened by medical staff to determine if they are suitable for booking. If there are any issues or injuries the subject is turned away to get an “Okay to book” from the hospital. Which is a more thorough screening done at the hospital. During Tortorella’s medical screening he was determined to be unfit for booking. Medical staff requested the deputy take Tortorella to the hospital for an “Okay to Book,” due to his condition.
Despite a medical professional requesting that Tortorella go to the hospital, because of his condition, the deputy left the jail and ignored the nurse’s direction. Instead the deputy contacted the on duty sergeant and asked if he could drop Tortorella off at a local homeless shelter with a ticket instead of booking him into the jail. Due to the fact Tortorella’s offense was a misdemeanor, and Department policy was to cite release most misdemeanors, the Sergeant agreed to the request. The deputy did not tell the sergeant that Tortorella required an Okay to book. By convincing the sergeant, the deputy saved himself the inconvenience of sitting at the hospital for a few hours.
The deputy left the jail and headed toward the homeless shelter which was in the opposite direction of the hospital. While on his way to drop Tortorella off at the homeless shelter, and save himself time, Tortorella become unresponsive in the back of the squad car. The deputy immediately turned the squad car around and headed toward the hospital where he should have gone in the first place. Tortorella never regained consciousnesses and was pronounced dead at the hospital. He was 31 years old.
I am unsure of the cause of death in Tortorella’s case. As there was limited information put out about it. And like most of the other stories you have uncovered about the Department nothing was disseminated or briefed about this incident. I am unaware of who the deputy was, or who the sergeant was either. But i would put money on it, they are part of the good old boys club. Maybe others who read this story could put names to the deputy and sergeant involved in this incident. And as far as I know, neither the deputy nor the sergeant were disciplined or terminated for this incident. Despite the fact that the deputy violated policy, and lied by omission to the sergeant on duty. He also displayed poor judgement and was negligent in his treatment of Tortorella.
Here’s a link to a story about another deputy from Palm Desert who was terminated for a similar offense. He wasn’t in the good old boys club, so no one covered for him.
This goes to show that under Stan Sniff’s and his second floor minions lack of leadership, there is a clear pattern and practice of discrimination. The disparity in the treatment of staff who have committed similar offenses is abundantly clear. This conduct continues to happen up to this very day and needs to be stopped. Anyone who has experienced this type of treatment should file a complaint with the county’s HR. Then go and find a lawyer and get paid. I’m pretty sure Purvis and Dekker have the number to a good attorney with experience suing the county.
“Let there be consistency in whatever you do and whatever you say. If what you think and say is mismatching with what you do, you can’t really be trusted.”
Israelmore Ayivor
Be careful with this interpid blogger. While I am a strong Bianco supporter, I know for A fact the parties were disciplined. While the scenario is accurate, it was not covered up. The Palm Desert incident is apples and oranges. Totally different circumstances and that deputy was disciplined and terminated
Keep post Aaron. Your information is very valueble to the community.
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