Harrison was brought to the Santa Rita jail on Aug. 13th on a warrant for driving under the influence of alcohol. While in custody in the jails minimum security area, Harrison was found hiding behind a mattress claiming someone was trying to shoot him. Harrison had allegedly tossed his food tray and flooded his own cell.

A deputy calmed him down and Harrison was handcuffed while the jail cell was cleaned up. Allegedly, Harrison broke free and charged at the officer. That’s when the deputy used a Taser to stop him. Other deputies rushed out and came to assist. Harrison was shocked again when he charged the deputy a second time.

He was seen by the nursing staff and taken to the jail’s medical clinic for evaluation. It was there he became unresponsive. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.

The two deputies involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.

They were protesting against stagnant contract negotiations which stated that management wants its employees to pay for 30% of their own health care costs.

On Wednesday, the employees were locked out. 

Their fight pushed forward after protesters worked more than two months without a contract set in place. Further, they also wanted a new contract with the Tennessee-based prison Health Services company, which contracts with Alameda County. It provides both of these jails with staff and workers such as medical records tech’s and nurses.

Maxine Persky, a nurse at the Santa Rita jail stated, “It’s just another intimidation tactic… How is this bargaining in good faith?” She was told she wouldn’t be allowed back to work until next week. But she remains worried about the inmates. “That isn’t the easiest population to deal with. But we know the jail. We’re professionals.”

Nurses salaries are reportedly 25 to 64 percent higher at the jails than at other work sites located in the Bay area, Health Services officials say. 

Officials released a statement on Wednesday stating, it “will continue to fulfill its contract with the county and to maintain patient care through the use of temporary replacement employees through 6 a.m. March 16, or until we reach a settlement with the union, whichever comes first.”

The video, which was uploaded to YouTube, shows the officer entering the train and grabbing Gibson. He then lead him to the opposite side of the platform. The YouTube video, which was titled to suggest the officer forced Gibson’s head into the glass, actually appeared to show Gibson throwing his right arm forward right before the glass shattered.

Gibson, who’s had a history of mental problems was also injured in the arrest and taken to a hospital. He was later transported to the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on battery and resisting an officer, both of which are felonies. He was also charged with the misdemeanor of being intoxicated in public.

The arresting officer has not been involved in any prior use-of-force incidents and is currently on leave as his injuries heal.

This latest incident does not come without controversy. Just in January, another BART officer was video taped after fatally shooting passenger, Oscar Grant III who was reported to be unarmed. That incident also sparked protests after being uploaded on to YouTube.

Alameda County Sheriffs got a call about a carjacking that happened in Castro Valley on July 19th. A Pleasanton man had reported that while at the Hacienda Crossings shopping center in Dublin, a young man pulled a gun and carjacked the Chrysler 300. Later, the Sheriff’s came across the vehicle parked at a local church with a boy and girl seated in the vehicle. The Sheriff’s ran the VIN number and established that it was the actual vehicle that was reported stolen. The boy fit the description given by the Pleasonton man.

Needless to say, the boy is now in Juvenile Hall and the girl was released, hopefully smarter now and will not be pursuaded to a date with a 17 year old boy driving a $35,000 car.

Photocredit: © Dmitriy Eremenkov – Fotolia.com