TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A police officer tried to put a woman into a patrol car after she collapsed at a hospital, believing that she was “making herself dead weight” to avoid going to jail, according to a police report released Monday.
The woman, 57-year-old Barbara Dawson, died about 90 minutes later at Liberty-Calhoun Hospital. The state law enforcement department and the state’s health care agency have launched investigations.
Dawson was initially brought to the hospital on Dec. 21 by ambulance after complaining of abdominal pain. She was treated, but became unruly when she was discharged because she didn’t think she was OK to be released.
After refusing multiple requests to leave, she was arrested for disorderly conduct and trespassing, police said. Officer John Tadlock said he tried to remove Dawson’s oxygen hose but she refused to let him take it. The officer eventually got it out and handcuffed Dawson with the help of a paramedic.
Tadlock said he had to push Dawson from behind to get her to go to the police car and she complained of difficulty breathing. She fell to the ground 1 to 2 feet from the patrol car while Tadlock reached for his keys.
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