x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com Received: from mail pickup service by sc.lmhostediq.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 4 Feb 2016 11:39:29 -0500 thread-index: AdFfap3tUgsu4VllRZ6PUGp/JVxg+A== Thread-Topic: Treatment While in Custody From: To: Subject: Treatment While in Custody Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2016 11:39:29 -0500 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 04 Feb 2016 16:39:29.0244 (UTC) FILETIME=[9E0031C0:01D15F6A] CUSTOM Mrs. Sylvia S. Crouse 248 Todds Creek Road Central SC 29630 sylviacrouse@charter.net 8644819011 VET Treatment While in Custody 24.241.248.165 Dear Governor Haley, I wanted to forward a copy of a letter that I sent to the Governor of Nevada concerning the way my daughter was treated while in custody there. The letter will explain what happened and I am sure you will find this appalling as I did when my daughter told me all that had happened. No one, especially a Veteran, should be treated this way. Thank you for your review and assistance in this matter. Sincerely, Sylvia Smith Crouse COPY OF LETTER TO GOVERNOR OF NEVADA February 4, 2016 Governor Brian Sandoval, I wanted to make you aware of the treatment my daughter, Stefanie Lyn Smith experienced while in custody in Nevada from January 14, 2016 until January 19, 2016. My daughter is a Veteran, having served in the United States Air Force. While driving through Nevada on January 14th, with her dog, Sweet Girl, she ran out of gasoline and when she could not get any assistance or help, dialed 911. She locked her dog in the car, and walked to a convenience store. They couldn't help her, so she dialed 911 again. The dispatcher told her it was illegal to call 911 in Nevada for this problem. The police were called to the scene and she was arrested on two counts of unlawful use of emergency phone (911). She did become angry, and at this point made a quick call to my husband, who heard her say she was being arrested and the officer said, "Who are you talking to?" "Put down your phone." She responded that she was talking to her Dad. She pressed the speaker phone button and she yelled, "Clark County Detention" as the officer turned off the phone. After some time, and searching on the internet my husband found a number to call in Nevada to find out exactly what happened and where she was being held. We found this information and made a call to the Detention Center and talked with the Officer. I was told my daughter would have a hearing on January 15th at 7:30am, this did not occur. I was told that she could be held for 48 hours until a hearing. I called the Detention Center many times to ask if Stefanie was receiving her prescribed medications, which were in her purse, in police custody. According to Stefanie, every time she asked for her medications, she was placed in what she called lockdown. I made a call on January 18th at 7:15pm to inquire again about Stefanie receiving her medications. I was told they were monitoring her blood pressure twice daily which Stefanie later denied. I asked to be transferred to Medical and they said the call could not be transferred. I asked to whom I was speaking and she replied, "Sabina". I asked for Sabina's last name and badge number and she refused saying, "She did not give out that information". I don't believe that is proper protocol. Sabina said, "They needed a confirmation from her physician." I replied, "Her medications are in her purse." I also said, "Nothing better not happen to my daughter!" She had been prescribed a blood pressure medication, to be taken three times a day. She was also taking one Seroquel, 100 mg. to be taken at bedtime. She was denied this also. She was without her prescribed medications for a total of five days. Is this the way you treat Veterans in the state of Nevada? I repeatedly told them, "She is a Veteran and needs her medicine." I called many times, but only documented this one call as I felt I was being given the "run around." I was told later that her video court would now be on January 19th at 9:00 a.m. Stefanie called my husband, Larry Crouse, at 9:23 a.m. and said, "She was being released." We received another call at 4:46 p.m. to say that she was free! It took over seven hours to process Stefanie's release. Again, I state that she did not know that it was illegal to call 911. She was told by an officer that you're supposed to call 311. How are people traveling supposed to know that? Her rental car was towed by Big John's Towing, and then taken to the nearest airport. Her dog was taken to Paws and Claws in Boulder City, where Sweet Girl remains to this day. It's going to be quite expensive to fly her beloved dog that she's had for several years back to South Carolina. She also had to pack her belongings from the rental car and send them home by Greyhound bus. All this happened as a result of being incarcerated for unlawful use of emergency 911, because she was out of gas and needed help. A single woman, traveling alone, with her dog in unfamiliar territory. I called your office once, and left a message. I haven't heard back from your office staff, so I thought a letter might be more appropriate. I'm also sending a copy of this letter to our Governor Nikki Hailey in South Carolina. Thank you so much for looking into this matter. I would appreciate a timely reply. Respectfully yours, Sylvia Smith Crouse