The family of a community activist who died while police custody was awarded a $1 million judgment against the City of Chicago Monday.
May Molina, 55, was arrested at her home in 2004 on drug charges. After spending 30 hours in jail, Molina, an asthmatic diabetic who used a wheelchair, was found dead in her cell.
"We are alleging they ignored calls from other prisoners, from her lawyers, and a jury found all 7 officers liable, acted unreasonably and are responsible for Miss Molina's death," the family's attorney, Jon Loevy said.
Loevy says Molina, members of her family and even other prisoners asked that she get medical attention while locked up, but their pleas were ignored.
"All her pleas fell on deaf ears," Molina's son, Salvador Ortiz, said. "Thirty hours is just too long."
The city argued in the civil trial that Molina had swallowed packets of heroin, and that more than 80 packets were found in her home, suggesting drugs were a factor in her death.
But Molina's attorney says whether it was drugs she swallowed or drugs she wasn't allowed to take, she still should have been given medical attention. He says Chicago will now have to change a policy that allows people to be held for 48 hours without screening or medication.
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"The city of Chicago is going to have to change its policy, it's a policy that persists to this day and is uniform throughout the city," Loevy said.
The jury also found the city liable liable for what they call a fatal problem within the system.
City officials say they plan to appeal the decision.
