BENTON – East St. Louis policeman Keith Randolph allegedly gave bad information to paramedics and prevented gunshot victim Latoya Helm from receiving medical attention, her counsel David Jinkins alleged in U.S. district court on Sept. 15.
Jinkins, counsel by appointment of Senior District Judge Phil Gilbert, amended a complaint Helm filed against police in May without counsel.
Jinkins added Randolph as defendant.
According to her amended complaint, Helm called 911 on June 20, regarding armed individuals.
She was shot in the foot and her fiancé began driving her to the nearest hospital.
Randolph pulled them over for speeding and made an initial determination that an ambulance was necessary, but when an ambulance arrived, Randolph “incorrectly determined that Ms. Helm stepped on a sharp object that went through her shoe.”
Randolph’s incident report indicated no injury.
When police released Helm from custody, she sought and received medical assistance.
“Touchette Regional Hospital later advised defendants that Ms. Helm did have a bullet in her left foot,” Jinkins wrote.
He wrote that it’s still there and continues to cause pain.
“As a result of her injury, Ms. Helm has suffered emotional distress and lost her job.”
Helm’s original complaint alleged denial of government services, deprivation of rights under color of law, and failure to keep from harm.
She claimed she was shot due to officers not wanting to respond to several calls.
She caimed she was denied a police report and investigation.
She moved for recruitment of counsel and Gilbert denied it, telling her she must show that she tried to obtain counsel.
She provided a list of five firms that turned her down.
Gilbert granted her motion, finding she required a guiding hand.
The clerk assigned Jinkins, who practices at Thompson Coburn in St. Louis.