Justice Thomas’ Nephew Says He Was Tasered at Hospital
The nephew of Justice Clarence Thomas says he was roughed up and shocked by hospital security personnel as he tried to leave the facility in the New Orleans area last Thursday.
Derek Thomas and his family members say security personnel shocked him with a Taser or some kind of stun gun, and pulled out sewn-in dreadlocks, according to ABC26WGNO, WWLTZ.com, WDSU.com and the Washington Post. His age is reported as 24 by two of the broadcast stations, and 25 by another.
Thomas, a college student, told WWLTZ that he has epilepsy and took too much medication when he started to come down with a migraine. He suffered a seizure and went to the West Jefferson Medical Center.
“I was getting, basically a migraine, so to speak, and just wanted to solve that,” Derek Thomas told WWLTZ. “I wasn’t doing anything to injure myself or my life.”
Thomas said he didn’t want to stay at the hospital because of cost concerns, although he had medical insurance. He refused to put on a hospital gown and tried to leave when he was confronted by the security guards. After he was shocked, he says, he suffered another seizure.
The hospital is investigating the incident. Justice Thomas was reportedly traveling to New Orleans to see his nephew.
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