A former inmate at the Arapahoe County jail has filed a federal lawsuit against the county claiming that deputies broke his leg and then failed to treat the leg for 43 hours.
Carl Nilges, 47, who has cerebral palsy, claims that his civil rights were violated as a result of excessive force, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday by Aurora attorney Randy Corporon.
Nilges seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
Arapahoe County sheriff’s spokeswoman Julie Brooks said she could not comment because she had not heard about the lawsuit. She also referred questions to Arapahoe County Attorney Ron Carl, who could not be reached immediately for comment.
Nilges, of Hawaii, was serving a jail sentence on a misdemeanor charge on on April 19 when he was moved into a holding cell near the booking area of the jail for disciplinary reasons, the lawsuit says.
Because of his medical condition, Nilges’ shuffling movements are slow, lurching and unsteady, the lawsuit says.
Corporon acknowledges in the filing that Nilges attempted to push deputy Geoffrey Maisch in the chest with an open hand as the deputy was closing the door to Nilges’ cell.
Maisch and four other officers pushed forward, shoved Nilges backwards, causing him to stumble and fall. His head hit the wall.
Nilges’ right leg broke “at mid-shaft.” He suffered a severe fracture with numerous bone fragments, the lawsuit says.
After the officers left the cell, Nilges tried but couldn’t stand and remained slumped against the wall on the floor. He was in excruciating pain and yelled and screamed for help.
Despite Nilges’ persistent, loud complaints about pain and having no feeling in the sole of his right foot, it wasn’t until April 21 that an x-ray was done and the broken leg was discovered and treated, the lawsuit says.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, kmitchell@denverpost.com or @kirkmitchell or
