A Tragic Case of Negligence and Inappropriate Conduct
A recent legal case has brought attention to the alleged misconduct of law enforcement officers who were responsible for a man's death during what was supposed to be a routine arrest. The incident, which occurred in Oregon, highlights serious concerns about how police handle individuals experiencing mental health crises.
Nathan Bradford Smith, 33, died in July after being arrested by the Coos Bay Police Department for disorderly conduct while showing signs of methamphetamine use. According to a lawsuit filed by his family, the officers involved failed to provide adequate care and instead engaged in inappropriate behavior while Smith was in their custody.
The officers interacted with Smith on multiple occasions throughout the day. The first encounter happened around 11 am when they confiscated a meth pipe from him. Later that afternoon, they responded to a report that he was causing disturbances at a business. The third interaction took place around 5 pm when they found Smith lying on the sidewalk near a Motel 6.
According to the lawsuit, body camera footage suggests that the responding officers treated Smith aggressively, despite his lack of resistance. One officer, Wesley O’Connor, was heard saying, "Get your hand away from me you weirdo" during the arrest. O’Connor also reportedly placed his weight on Smith’s shoulder and grabbed his wrist.
The lawsuit claims that the officers neglected Smith's mental state and chose to arrest him instead of providing necessary medical attention. Smith exhibited signs of distress, including difficulty moving and rapid breathing, when he was placed in the police vehicle. However, the officers are accused of not offering any medical assistance while he was gasping for air with his eyes closed.
Dash camera footage revealed that Smith slumped in the backseat of the car. When Officer Benjamin Martin arrived at the police department, he allegedly sprayed his vehicle with air freshener and left Smith alone in the car with the windows closed. During this time, Martin was seen scrolling through his phone, responding to intimate text messages, and watching TikTok videos.
One message that Martin received read, "I’m so ready for snuggles I feel like I haven’t seen you in a week." According to a police report, Martin later checked on Smith and found him unconscious. He then performed sternal rubs and administered Narcan.
Approximately 20 minutes after Smith was placed in the vehicle, ambulances arrived and provided treatment before taking him to a local hospital. However, less than 45 minutes after his initial arrest, Smith died due to hyperthermia caused by meth intoxication and the heavy clothing he was wearing.
Despite the hospital being only two miles from where Smith was arrested, the officers decided to take him in the opposite direction to the police department. The lawsuit argues that this decision led to a delay in receiving medical care for over 40 minutes, which could have been critical in saving his life.
Smith's family claims that if the officers had taken him directly to the hospital, he might still be alive. They argue that during his final moments in the vehicle, Smith was clearly suffering physically, mentally, and emotionally. His death from hyperthermia likely caused significant pain and distress.
The three officers involved face allegations of negligence and abuse of a vulnerable individual. Daily Mail reached out to the Coos Bay Police Department Chief of Police for comments on the lawsuit and additional information about the officers' current employment status.
Smith's father, Kurt, told Oregon Live that police came to his workplace to inform him of his son's death. He mentioned that the police did not share the circumstances of how his son died and that he had to learn about the cause of death from the funeral home.
In an investigative report, Officer Martin claimed there were no available officers to monitor Nathan while he was inside the station. He stated that he left Smith in the vehicle to call another officer during a shift change.
"This lawsuit shines a light on the police's inappropriate responses to people in health emergencies," said Hannah Bland, a staff attorney with the Civil Rights Project representing Smith's family. She emphasized that these officers, as first responders, failed to fulfill their duty to get Mr. Smith—someone in their custody—to the hospital when he showed clear signs of medical distress.
Instead of calling for an ambulance, Officer Martin spent crucial time scrolling through TikTok while Mr. Smith was overheating and gasping for air in the back of his police car. This tragic case raises important questions about the responsibilities of law enforcement and the need for better training in handling individuals with mental health issues.