Phoenix Cops Cleared in Carol Gotbaum's Death

Phoenix prosecutors will not prosecute police officers who arrested NYC resident Carol Gotbaum at Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport last year. Gotbaum was on her way to an alcohol rehab center and became so agitated and disruptive during her stopover in Phoenix that the airport police took her into custody. Hours later, she was found dead in her holding cell, with her chain wrapped around her neck. Her family, including stepmother-in-law and NYC Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, had questioned the police's handling, while the police and city of Phoenix said they didn't know was emotionally fragile. The Gotbaums filed an $8 million notice of claim against Phoenix, for its "excessive and unreasonable force on Carol, as if she was a dangerous criminal, rather than as the sick, intoxicated and vulnerable person she was."

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By Jen Chung in News on August 22, 2008 3:38 PM

Comments [rss]

Snoopy

From now on anyone traveling on public transportation with her condition should have a badge or a tattoo on their forehead stating "DO NOT SERVE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES TO THIS BITCH BECAUSE SHE IS UNSTABLE AND GOING TO REHAB!"

cucarachita

I have to admit, I feel no pity for her except to think she mad bad choices all her life, and died in a pathetic way and if she was unable to be left alone in public, she should have been accompanied by some kind of caretaker. So, it's a pity she wasn't, because this might not have happened if she'd been properly managed as the (apparently) mentally fragile person she was.

Are the airports supposed to have mental hospitals on their premises? No, because you're not supposed to travel alone if you're not mentally competent. That's why they make people watch and escort kids travelling alone. She should have had a badge and everything, just like a kid, maybe.

smacky

Wacky, out of control, alcoholic, rich bitch, throws tantrum then dies. Her fault. Even the privileged classes get hit

The Edge

Amazing how even with cold, hard facts thrown in their faces the usual faux anti-authority (because the only civil disobedience they've got the balls for is typing anonymously on the intarwebs) types here will still say it was the cops fault.

dooWOP

These people are vile aren't they? I almost feel sorry for their husbands who must deal with them everyday.

Snoopy

Maybe a few weeks in sheriff Joseph M. Arpaio's tent city would have cooked the juice out of her.

babyhitler

Yeah. Police should have detained the terrorists on UA flight 93 because they might have been vulnerable and emotionally fragile people instead of you know, Fucking terrorists.

evilqueensofia

I agree with Derekasaurus, If her family was really concerned about her and knew drink made her 'crazy' one of them should have accompanied her. Everyone knows how stessful air travel is, even when you have your wits about you.

ed_Extinct

Police aren't psychologists and frankly it's sad she died, but the police, in my opinion, acted as she was any other deranged person—a threat to others and herself. How are they to know she was sick?

The Phoenix Police Dept should file a counter lawsuit against the Gotbaum's for allowing this sick intoxicated person to travel alone.

The Gotbaums are at fault with this one. Shame on them.

sj

Heck even the family lawyer is reasonable enough to be on board with this finding. From the New York Times:

----

The announcement did not surprise the Gotbaum family’s lawyer, Michael Manning.

“We never believed that the officers intentionally killed her,” Mr. Manning said. “From what we know at this stage, they may have been grossly negligent in how they treated her. But they certainly were not acting criminally.”

e.p.c.

Carol Gotbaum is Betsy Gotbaum’s stepdaughter-in-law, not stepchild.

thefacts

It's interesting to see Betsy Gotbaum finally getting some press after seven years in office.

zodak

what!!!???

Phoenix prosecutors will not prosecute police officers??!!!

i'm shocked. SHOCKED!!

jenspellnogood

they should send her family a bill for the inconvenience and interruption to their duties. her family totally neglected her, and caused her death; they should be ashamed of themselves.

Derekasaurus

While this case is tragic, the cops really didn't do anything outrageous. They followed policy to the letter and this woman ultimately killed herself. I don't know why more blame doesn't fall on the family that let this "sick, intoxicated and vulnerable person" travel by herself in the state she was in. My 2-year-old may want to demonstrate his independence by crossing Broadway without supervision, but as someone who cares about him I'm not going hold his hand whether he wants it or not. Her family let this happen, not the cops. There are good reasons to be pissed at the fuzz, but this isn't one of them.

Snoopy

I guess even with political connections things don't go that well. I'll drink to that.

drewo

Yeah, she was threatening them with a weapon... I mean, her cellphone.

WorksInDUMBO

From what I recall, she was running around like a crazy person, yelling and screaming. They didn't arrest her "for fun" at all...

interlard

Might be a crazy idea, but maybe the police could be trained to spot people going over the edge, substance-dependent with a tinge of kill-themselves thrown in? Seems pretty obvious to me. Why the hell did they think she was freaking out? I mean, people don't just get arrested for fun.