SCOTUS will consider cops' ADA obligations when arresting mentally ill suspects
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday granted cert in a case that raises questions about police responsibilities when arresting mentally ill suspects.
One of the issues in the case is whether the Americans with Disabilities Act requires police officers to provide accommodations when arresting an armed, violent and mentally ill suspect, according to SCOTUSblog, USA Today and the cert petition (PDF).
The case involved the arrest of Teresa Sheehan, who had threatened to killer her social worker with a butter knife. Sheehan lived at a group home for mentally ill individuals and her condition had worsened after going off psychotropic medication, the social worker reported. The social worker called San Francisco police and cleared the home of other residents.
When police officers arrived and entered Sheehan’s room, she grabbed a knife and threatened them, according to the cert petition. Police initially retreated, but then they kicked down the door. They used pepper spray and one officer fired a gun when Sheehan charged them while holding a knife. Sheehan was struck by bullets, but survived.
A second issue in the case is whether clearly established precedent in cases of armed and violent subjects required the officers to stay out of the room if they didn’t have a warrant and had no “immediate need” to enter.
Justice Stephen G. Breyer did not participate in the cert grant because his brother, a federal judge, was previously involved in the case, SCOTUSblog says.
The case is San Francisco v. Sheehan.
