Inmate Claims Washington County Jail Violates His Constitutional Rights

A man has claimed that the Washington County Jail has violated his constitutional right to "redress of grievances" after he said his medical problems went unheeded.

Richard A. Dunkovich wrote a letter in July to Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughn, pleading for help.

In jail since December, the letter indicates that he began experiencing shoulder pain in February that progressed through March.

"I lived with the pain through March, April and May. It got so intense that I was unable to put my shirt on and off without pain," Dunkovich told Irey in the letter. "I siwtched to a much bigger shirt because I could not reach above my shoulders and could not use my arms to get out of bed."

He said that in May, he signed up for a doctor's visit, explaining that shoulder pain to the jail nurse.

"A short time later I got a written response that a (doctor's) visit was not necessary, but to take (two) Motrin and Tylenol a day for 10 days," Dunkovich wrote, adding that after following those instructions he still felt no relief.

Then, on June 12, he again signed up for visit with a doctor "describing the excruciating pain."

The next day he called for a nurse, who again advised him to take pain medication and try light exercise to avoid tightness. He was then returned to his cell, according to the letter.

"I am in my 50s, in great pain. I struggle getting in and out of bed, feeding mself and going to the bathroom," he wrote. "I am also a pre-trial detainee, still considered innocent (until) proven guilty. In the time being, (the nurses) have been very rude to me upon my request for minor pain relievers at med call."

In conclusion, he told Irey in the letter that he deemed it "serious medical need," and stated that he was entitled to the treatment, citing the Eighth Amendment.

"Jail officials showed 'deliberate indifference' to my serious medical need," he wrote. "This deliberate indiference has caused greater injury."

Washington County Jail Warden Joseph Pelzer did not immediately return a phone call seeking information on the matter on Thursday afternoon.

Irey was not immediately available for comment.

The letter was found during a routine check of the state online court records conducted by Canon-McMillan Patch.

Check back with Canon-McMillan Patch for updates.