Ryan Partridge, a former inmate in Boulder, Colorado, has recently been awarded a substantial settlement in a federal civil rights lawsuit.
Partridge, who suffers from schizophrenia, severely injured himself during a schizophrenic episode while in custody at Boulder County Jail. The incident occurred in 2016 when Partridge, who was being held in connection with an assault on a homeless person, made multiple attempts to harm himself. He first attempted suicide by diving headfirst from the second story of the facility, breaking a vertebra.
On another occasion, he threatened to jump from a similar spot but was talked down by others. Additionally, there are reports that he repeatedly smashed his head against a toilet, resulting in broken teeth and facial bruising.
According to the federal lawsuit, Partridge's mental illness was well-known to both jail officials and Partridge himself. Throughout 2016, he was in and out of the Boulder County Jail, consistently exhibiting signs of severe mental illness. He was periodically taken from the jail to the state mental hospital or an affiliated treatment center in an attempt to restore his legal competency to face the minor criminal charges against him. The lawsuit claims that the jail was fully aware of Partridge's schizophrenia.
Despite the knowledge of his condition, Partridge refused to take his medication due to a fear of being poisoned. In an interview with CBS4, he stated, "I remember them asking if I wanted medication. I didn't know what for, and I didn't trust anyone."
The jail's statement indicated that officials were prohibited from involuntarily administering psychotropic medications to inmates, even when they were experiencing extreme symptoms.
In December 2016, Partridge experienced a severe schizophrenic episode, during which he gouged out both of his eyes, claiming he was ordered to do so by the CIA. While he has since received transplants, his vision has never been restored.
This week, it was announced that Partridge had reached two separate settlements with 22 defendants, including then-Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle, jail administrators, and employees. The first settlement awards Partridge $2.225 million for the jail officials' deliberate indifference to his serious psychiatric needs. The second settlement, amounting to $350,000, is connected to accusations of excessive force used by jail officers in their treatment of Partridge.
The settlement money will be provided by the county's insurance carrier, according to the sheriff's statement.
Partridge expressed his thoughts on the settlement, stating, "This is a form of justice for me, but it's not justice in its essence." His father, Richard Partridge, added, "How much money would you take to be blind the rest of your life? It's not about the money."
Ryan Partridge reported that he is currently "recovering" and has been "asymptomatic recently." He acknowledged that some people may view his injuries as self-inflicted but emphasized that he and his legal team faced challenges in their pursuit of justice due to qualified immunity.
In a lengthy statement, the sheriff's office referred to the incident nearly seven years ago as an example of the ongoing struggles faced by both jail inmates with severe mental illness and the staff responsible for their care within the limits imposed by state law.
The statement maintained that none of the staff involved in the incident were at fault or violated the law, and it highlighted the officials' repeated attempts to have Partridge transferred to a healthcare facility, such as a state hospital in Pueblo, as ordered by the court. Unfortunately, these attempts were unsuccessful.
The statement concluded by expressing hope that the settlement would provide closure for Partridge, his family, and the Sheriff's Office employees impacted by the tragic events that occurred during Partridge's mental health crisis in the jail.
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