In the article below, the jail spokesperson stated that Philander received medical care in the jail for his injuries. This is not true. Despite Philander making several requests for care, jail staff refused to turn in the request slips until the staff nurse had left for the day. After we blitzed the jail with phone calls, jail staff took Philander to HCMC late Saturday night/Sunday morning. We obtained his medical records from that visit and HCMC classified Philander as a sexual assault victim. We have other documentation to back up Philander's claims.
That bit about the jail staff being willing to take him back to Fairview for a medical exam is also a bunch of hooey--we requested it on Thurday and the request was denied. If everything is so hunky dorey at the jail, why are they trying so hard to prevent this young man from having an independent medical examination?
Michelle Gross
Bryn Mawr
Communities United Against Police Brutality
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HENNEPIN COUNTY: Group calls for investigation after inmate claims jail assault
BY JENNIFER BJORHUS
Pioneer Press
Posted on Sun, Oct. 12, 2003
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/6993643.htm
The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is reviewing accusations that jail staff beat and sexually assaulted a 20-year-old inmate a week ago and then prevented outside medical staff from examining him.
"The case will certainly be thoroughly reviewed," Roseann Campagnoli, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, said Saturday evening after about eight members of a Minneapolis activist group brought a letter of protest to the jail.
Campagnoli said she couldn't discuss Jenkins' injuries because that was private medical information. She said she had not been informed the injuries involved a rectal assault. She didn't know how many jail staff were accused. No one is currently being disciplined, she said.
Allegations that Philander Jenkins of North Minneapolis had been assaulted began surfacing last week after Communities United Against Police Brutality took up the matter.
"We are gravely concerned about Mr. Jenkins' safety while in your facility," a copy of the letter reads. Bill Cooley, a volunteer with the group, said they are "scared to death that something even worse is going to happen to him."
Jenkins was arrested Aug. 15 and faces multiple charges, including various assaults, aggravated robbery, burglary and being a felon with a fireman, according to the jail. A jury trial is slated for Nov. 19.
Campagnoli said Jenkins received appropriate medical treatment inside the jail for injuries he said he suffered in an assault. She said he was taken to Fairview University Medical Center in Minneapolis on Wednesday, but was returned to the jail without being evaluated because no doctor was available. She didn't know why a doctor wasn't available. Staff would take Jenkins back to the hospital if someone asks them too, she said.
According to Cooley, the jail staff who took Jenkins to Fairview brought him to the hospital 30 minutes before his scheduled appointment and then took Jenkins back to the jail 5 to 10 minutes before the appointment.
The inmate's mother, Brenda Jenkins, 39, of North Minneapolis said she learned of the alleged attack after her son slipped a note out on a food tray from his cell in isolation asking someone to tell his family that he was in trouble. She said he had scribbled the number of his grandmother in Chicago.
Brenda Jenkins said the alleged jail attack happened Oct. 4 after someone became concerned that her son had an extra pillow. At least two jail staff held her son down and "started ramming objects up his anus," she said.
Brenda Jenkins said her attorney, Peter Nickitas, visited Philander Jenkins the day of the assault, saw some of his injuries and obtained a court order for him to see a doctor. Jenkins was then taken to Fairview a few days later but was never examined there.
Nickitas could not immediately be reached for comment. Brenda Jenkins said she's worried about her son and feels he's in grave danger.
Jennifer Bjorhus can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 651-228-2146.
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