David Stojcevski - starved, sick, ignored

David Stojcevski - starved, sick, ignored

Months ago, David Stojcevski received a minor ticket for careless driving. Like millions of Americans, he was simply unable to pay it. His minor traffic ticket turned into an obstruction of justice charge, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Soon, he was arrested and given a harsh 30-day jail sentence—which likely cost Macomb County way more than the original unpaid ticket.

He didn't live for 30 days. Just 17 days after entering the Macomb County Jail outside of Detroit, David Stojcevski died in police custody. This time, though, almost every moment he spent in the jail was filmed. A powerful, sobering summary video is posted below and must be seen to be believed.

It's cruel, but we can no longer say it's unusual in America because thousands of our most vulnerable women and men are dying in police custody.

When Stojcevski entered the jail, he was on three prescribed medications. The jail knew this, but refused him any substantive medical care during his entire stay.

During the first 17 days of his sentence, Stojcevski somehow lost an astounding 50 pounds while in custody.



When Stojcevski began hallucinating -- a symptom of benzodiazepine withdrawal -- he told officers he felt “all his organs" had been removed and his "arms [had been] shredded," leaving "10 percent of his heart." Instead of receiving medical care, the suit claims he was placed on suicide watch, where he was stripped naked for his own safety, and officers looked on via a 24-hour-a-day camera. There, the suit says, "defendants … monitored, watched and observed David spend the final ten days of his life suffering excruciating benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms.”

On the 17th day, while being filmed for the staff to see, Stojcevski died on the floor of his cell. In effect, he was given the death penalty for a traffic ticket. It's absurd that this man, who anyone could tell was in significant distress, was not rushed to a hospital at any point during the 17 days. The entire staff should be charged with criminal neglect.

Please watch the video below. It's very well-done local news coverage on someone dying in police custody.