COURT HOUSE — Gary Arrington, 45, of Whitesboro spent two days in Cape May County Jail on a contempt charge for child support, and claimed during that time, he was not allowed to take medications for his diabetes and back pain.
On July 6, Arrington was incarcerated. At the time of his arrest, he told officers that he wanted to bring his medications, all prescribed to him by local doctors in bottles with his name on each label, with him to jail, so that the nurse there could administer them to him.
He said that, during the intact process, he told the nurse of his conditions and medications.
“When they came around, they checked my blood and said it was OK,” Arrington said.
“I take my medication day and night,” he added, but claimed that none was administered during his time in jail.
“They said they couldn’t give it to me. I had headaches and felt pressure up and down my spine. I didn’t feel the same,” said Arrington.
“I don’t think it’s right what they did up there,” he added, during an interview at the Herald’s office.
“I could have had a stroke or something,” he continued.
The former commercial fisherman and concrete worker said he “faithfully takes my medication and pain pills.”
“They treat you the way they want to treat you,” he added.
Among medications Arrington took with him to the jail were Levothyroxin, Metoprolol, Gabapentin, Glimepiride, Enalapril, Metanx and Tramadol.
Sheriff Gary Schaffer could not address Arrington’s specific medical concerns, due to health privacy regulations.
However, he said standard operating procedure at the jail is that diabetics have a blood sample taken by a finger stick.
“If their blood sugar is bad, we have insulin in stock, and we immediately take care of it.
They are given insulin every day. That is the procedure with diabetics,” Schaffer said.
He said diabetics are given special snacks and meals that taken into consideration their medical conditions.
Arrington said all medications were returned to him when he was released on July 8.
Schaffer said he recently received word that the jail had received accreditation from the Committee on Health Care for compliance with all standards regarding inmates’ health. Of 34 areas inspected, the jail received a 100 percent compliance rating, the sheriff said.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com
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