Man sues Racine PD over claims he was mistreated, medical care was delayed while being transported to jail

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Racine man is suing the Racine Police Department after he says the department's officers mistreated him while he was being transported to the Racine County Jail during extreme heat last year.

He's also suing the city of Racine for not complying with open records law, including withholding the identities of the officers involved.

Adam Locke recounted the incident, which he says lasted for more than three hours. Inside the police vehicle, security video as well as bodycam shows Locke asking for medical attention multiple times.

On July 14, 2023, Locke was being transported from Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee to the Racine County Jail after being treated for multiple injuries following a motor vehicle accident -- including fractures to his leg, hip, arm, ribs, knee, and a puncture to the right lung.

“I can’t breathe,” Locke can be heard saying on transport surveillance obtained by his attorney. “I can’t breathe back here. I feel no air.”

“It’s humiliating, it's embarrassing,” Locke said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon, recalling the incident. 

Security video inside the transport vehicle shows Locke complaining about excessive heat and no air conditioning. Locke's attorney, B’Ivory LaMarr, says the officers stop briefly to check on Locke, but then continue driving before pulling over a second time.

“Officer. You can go fast as you need to because I can’t breathe. I’m having no air,” Locke can be heard saying on video. “Help, man. I need help. Please. Help. Help.”

“She treated him like cargo, as if it was just important to get one package from point A to point B. She didn’t have no thought or consideration that this is a human being,” said LaMarr.

During the second stop, LaMarr says medical help does arrive, but claims officers insist on transporting Locke to the jail, rather than a hospital for medical attention. At one point, Locke lost consciousness.

“I was pleading and begging for help and for somebody to call medical, and I was completely ignored,” said Locke.

Locke says when he was given medical attention, he needed to be hospitalized for five days for treatment following this incident. CBS 58 reached out to the Racine Police Department for comment, but did not hear back.

“The last time Mr. Locke was on the side of the road, he was begging for medical assistance. This time, we’re on the side of the road, in front of a federal courthouse, pleading and begging for justice,” said LaMarr.

Locke and LaMarr say they are seeking monetary compensation as well as changes to transport policies.