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August 9, 2007

Update: Policy probes urged after detainee's death

It could take three months to determine why a Brazilian man died Tuesday while in custody, according to the Rhode Island Office of the State Medical Examiners.

Edimar Alves Dearaujo, 34, a Brazilian national of Milford, Mass., died Tuesday at Rhode Island Hospital 78 minutes after being taken into custody in Woonsocket by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, according to Paula Grenier, an ICE spokeswoman in Boston.

The medical examiners' office released a statement this afternoon, saying the cause of death is "pending further studies." Ancillary testing could take up to three months, the statement said.

Also today, the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union says it has filed an open records request to obtain copies of Woonsocket Police Department policies on how the medical needs of individuals in the department’s custody are handled.

The ACLU has also called on the state attorney general "to conduct an immediate inventory of other municipal police department policies across the state regarding the provision of medication to detainees who may have emergency medical needs."

Federal authorities are investigating the death, according to Grenier.

Dearaujo's sister has said that he was an epileptic who needed medication, but that the Woonsocket police would not let her deliver his anti-seizure medication when she showed up at the police station.

This afternoon, the International Institute of Rhode Island called for a "full and open investigation" into Araujo's death.

The independent, nonprofit group, which describes itself as a full-service center for immigrants and refugees, also asked Congressman Patrick Kennedy, whose district includes Woonsocket, and other elected officials to advocate for such a probe.

"All members of the Rhode Island community need to know why and how this sad event occurred. We also need to think long and hard about the connection between what has been happening politically around the issue of immigration and immigrants -- and whether such immigrants are legally or illegally present in our community -- and this unfortunate and apparently unnecessary incident."

Posted by Jack Perry  at 5:19 PM | Permalink

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