Man roughed up by hospital constables: I knew it was coming

Christiana Care says six people have been "separated" from the company after a video, obtained by The News Journal, showed four constables punching, kicking and kneeing a man while forcibly restraining him in a room at Wilmington Hospital on Feb. 24.

The man, Terrance Carter, told The News Journal his story Tuesday night, saying he knew he was going to get roughed up soon after the constables approached him.

Christiana Care Health System officials said they are "deeply sorry" about the incident in which the constables – private security officers who have similar powers to police – violently handcuffed a man with a bandaged left arm to wall-mounted restraints. In an updated, emailed statement issued Tuesday, Christiana Vice President of Communication Karen Y. Browne said four constables and two supervisors have been "separated" from the organization.

Another Christiana Care spokesman confirmed the six individuals were no longer working there.

The News Journal had earlier obtained a copy of the video and was trying to confirm the man's identity when Christiana Care responded to the newspaper's inquiry about it.

Browne would not say whether the man was a patient or hospital visitor.

In an interview at his sister's home in Wilmington, 37-year-old Terrance Carter identified himself as the individual in the video, adding he went to Wilmington Hospital early Feb. 24 after punching a refrigerator in a fit of "frustration."

Carter said he was treated at the hospital for a metacarpal fracture – a break of the tubular bones within the palm.

After a cast and bandage were placed over his left hand and arm, Carter waited at the hospital for a taxi to take him home. That's when he said he saw a man he knew there and the two became embroiled in a heated argument that turned into a brief tussle.

Documents obtained in Court of Common Pleas confirm Carter was charged with a single count of disorderly conduct that night after a fight at the hospital. His arraignment is scheduled for next month.

After the men separated on their own, Carter said constables asked the other man if he wanted to press charges. When the other man declined, Carter said constables escorted him to another area of the hospital.

"Take him to the room with no camera," Carter remembers hearing someone say, adding he searched for a camera when he entered the room.

Carter questioned constables why they were being so aggressive, but he said he already sensed what was coming.

"I could tell the way they grabbed me and they were being all physical that something was going to happen," he said. "I'm not slow.

"I was a little nervous, but I already knew what was going to happen."

Carter said he's been roughed up by police before during other arrests.

"I don't know if it's a look I have," he said. "Maybe it's my size."

First came an irritating spray to the face, leaving his eyes burning and making it difficult to breathe. Then came the blows.

"I could feel everything," he said. "I'm getting kicked and punched and Maced. I could feel everything."

Christiana Care's apology doesn't bring comfort to Carter, who still has marks on his forearms from where he was cuffed two months ago.

Browne said Christiana has already begun retraining its public safety staff on policies and procedures.

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"At Christiana Care, we are committed to an environment in which every person is treated fairly and compassionately," Browne said in Christiana's first release. "This incident does not reflect Christiana Care's values of serving our neighbors with respect and dignity. We are deeply sorry for these actions, and are committed to preventing this from happening again. As soon as our senior leadership was made aware, we immediately conducted a thorough investigation and took swift and appropriate action.

"The four constables and two supervisors have been separated from the organization. We’ve already begun retraining our public safety staff on our policies and procedures, and are committed to preventing anything similar to this from happening again."

Several Wilmington civil rights activists took issue with the video.

"They beat that boy up," said the Rev. Ty Johnson, leader of Churches Take a Corner, a Wilmington anti-violence organization. Johnson said he was surprised by the force the constables used.

"I saw the video and if I knew who to talk to, I'd be telling them it's crazy," he said. "A beating like that was unjustified and unmerciful."

Johnson was thankful the episode was captured on video. It shows Carter being escorted by two constables into a stark room with a single bench. As two more constables follow into the room, the man looked up at the security camera and appeared momentarily confused about what was happening.

Wearing jeans, a white T-shirt, green down jacket and sneakers, the man flexed a bit as the officers forcibly moved him toward the bench. He went down after an officer sprayed him in the face with some sort of substance. One officer kicked him as he collapsed onto the bench.

Two others forced Carter's hands into restraints mounted on the wall while the others kicked and kneed him. Constables also pummeled the man with elbows and fists.

Carter can be seen hunched over on the bench, using his bandaged arm to shield himself. While he can be seen resisting, he did not appear to lash out against the constables.

A few seconds after the constables leave the room, two of them return with a nurse, who appears to push a button, then leaves with the constables.

Browne said she was not prepared to comment on whether an incident report was filed by the constables.

"We have policy and procedures that we expect our team members to follow," she said. When asked if those policy and procedures were followed, Browne said she was not able to comment on that.

Johnson said he would be interested to see how the community reacts, but he's sure citizens are not going to like it.

At least two of Carter's family members told The News Journal they were saddened by what they witnessed on the video.

"I was just devastated," said Carter's older sister, Miesha Perkins. "It's just not fair."

Perkins said she and her family wanted to thank the person who sent the video to The News Journal.

"We would have never known that it was this bad," she said.

Browne would not explain how Christiana Care will work to prevent a similar situation.

"The security of our patients and our staff and our visitors is our utmost concern," she said. "We take that very, very seriously every day, all day."

Browne said people should not be concerned or afraid when visiting one of their facilities.

"Absolutely no," she said. "This incident does not reflect Christiana Care's values."

Constables are hired by hospitals, schools and businesses. Under a 1986 state law, private constables are commissioned to help law enforcement officers "preserve the peace and good order of the state." While on duty, constables carry badges and can exercise the same powers as law enforcement officers, including the power of arrest. They also are allowed to drive vehicles with emergency lights and have arrest powers only while on duty at their place of employment.

Several Delaware hospitals employ constables. As of April 2016, Bayhealth Medical Center had 22 constables, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children had 24, and Christiana Care had 76, according to the Delaware State Police.

Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3.