Woman arrested for trespassing in hospital, dies in jail

Richmond Fields, Missouri – New video has surfaced which shows Richmond Fields police arresting a 29-year-old woman at a hospital for trespassing and later dragging her into a jail cell, where she would eventually die. The woman, Anna Brown, had pleaded with officials at the hospital, telling them she was in extreme pain and was unable to stand. The video, which was obtained by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, shows Brown in a wheelchair, refusing to leave the hospital, St. Mary’s Health Center.

A doctor told officers that Brown was “healthy enough to be locked up.” The officers then put Brown in police car and, when she told them she was unable to stand, they dragged her into a jail cell.

It was later revealed that Brown died from blood clots that originated in her legs but traveled to her lungs. Officers had suspected Brown was using drugs, though autopsy results later showed this wasn’t true.

Video of the incident, which occurred last September, is just being brought to light this week.

WATCH THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH VIDEO OF BROWN BELOW:



Brown, 29, had recently lost custody of her two children, was homeless and on Medicaid, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reports. The paper is also reporting that hospital officials believe they took all of the necessary steps with Brown’s situation and Richmond Heights police said their actions were based on the doctor’s blessing that Brown was ‘healthy.’

Brown’s family has hired an attorney but no lawsuit has been filed. Brown was one of 10 children.

Update:

As of 5 pm Wednesday, nearly 13,000 people provided signatures to an online petition demanding ‘Health Care For All’ in Brown’s memory.

Additionally, a Facebook page has been created in Brown’s honor, demanding “Justice for Anna Brown.” The page has 8,510 likes.

Click here to read the original St. Louis Post-Dispatch report.

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