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Miami Herald

Injured man left in police holding cell falls into coma and dies, PA lawsuit says

The family of a Pennsylvania man has filed a lawsuit saying he died after police failed to provide medical care while he was in their custody. The federal lawsuit was filed May 5 against West Mifflin and several officers. 'No comment on behalf of the West Mifflin Borough including the police chief, borough manager, mayor and board members,' Phil DiLucente, co-solicitor of West Mifflin Borough, told McClatchy News in an email. According to the civil complaint, in the early morning of July 5, Timothy Duc Tho Vong was physically assaulted, then left at a gas station in West Mifflin. Just before 3 a.m., Vong went to some nearby homes to try and find medical help, the lawsuit said. That's when police were called. Vong had 'visible injuries to his face, head, and neck including lacerations, bleeding, and bruising' and despite him being 'injured, disoriented, delirious, and seeking medical attention,' he was arrested, the complaint said. Vong was not given any medical attention, but instead was taken to a holding cell at the police station. Between 3:17 and 5:17 a.m., officers watched Vong call for help, crawl around the cell floor injured, unable to stand and kicking and flinching in pain, the lawsuit said. Vong was in the cell until 12:17 p.m., and at no time did an officer provide an in-person check on him, according to the complaint. After nine hours in the holding cell, Vong was found unconscious on the floor. Still, officers did not try to perform CPR, provide first aid or check for a pulse, the lawsuit said. This inaction allowed Vong to fall into a coma, according to the complaint. He died three days later. 'Timothy was known for his hard work ethic and his infectious sense of humor. He touched the lives of many with his kindness and generosity,' a GoFundMe page said. Vong was a father of two and 'was fiercely protective of his loved ones,' his obituary said. He was generous, selfless and would help anyone, the site said. An autopsy report said Vong died from 'untreated trauma to the face and head causing abrasions, lacerations, swelling, bruising, and hemorrhaging to those areas.' The lawsuit said officers did not comply with holding cell policies, refused Vong's requests for medical care and 'arrested him and then took away and denied his ability to obtain medical attention while under their custody.' The lawsuit is asking for an undetermined amount in damages. No arrests have been made in connection to the assault on Vong, his family's attorney, Alec Wright, told West Mifflin is about a 10-mile drive southeast from Pittsburgh.