Schizophrenic inmate Ryan Partridge who plucked out his own eyes after suffering untreated delusions in solitary confinement wins $2.5 million civil suit against Colorado prison
- Ryan Partridge, 37, became permanently blind during his self-harm due to his psychosis, but he has now won his battle against Colorado’s Boulder County Jail
- Footage from the prison showed staff using violence against Partridge, who was naked when he was a prisoner and was going through a mental crisis
A schizophrenic inmate who plucked his own eyeballs out of his head after suffering untreated delusions in solitary confinement has won a $2.5 million settlement.
Ryan Partridge, 37, who was in jail for a minor assault with another homeless person, went permanently blind during his psychotic self-harm. But he has now won his legal battle against Boulder County Jail in Colorado.
The hefty monetary settlement related to two matters: the willful “indifference to his serious psychiatric needs” and the excessive use of force by prison staff.
Prison footage showed staff using violence against Partridge, who was naked when he was a prisoner and was going through a mental crisis.
Ryan Partridge, 37, who was in jail for a minor assault with another homeless person, went permanently blind during his psychotic self-harm. But he has now won his legal battle against Boulder County Jail in Colorado
While in psychosis, Partridge also attempted suicide by climbing and jumping the top railing on a second floor of the prison.
He collapsed headfirst on the floor, hitting his head against a metal table and the concrete floor, Law and Crime reports.
This resulted in Partridge fracturing his vertebra. The ordeal took place six weeks before he probed his eyeballs.
A month later, he tried the same jumping stunt again, but guards talked him down.
While in prison in 2016, Partridge also tried to self-injure, including by banging his head against his toilet, leaving him bloodied with seven broken teeth.
Partridge’s attorney said officials ignored a judge’s emergency order to give him psychiatric treatment. The prisoner, deep in his crisis, believed the CIA was telling him to rip his eyes out of their sockets.
Prison footage showed staff using violence against Partridge, who was naked when he was a prisoner and was going through a mental crisis. Part of the settlement was for the excessive force used against him by the staff
The sheriff’s office said they did not believe their staff had defaulted, but “hope the settlement will put an end to Mr. Partridge”
In 2017, Partridge told CBS, “I don’t like loneliness. I don’t think this would have happened if I hadn’t been in solitary confinement. I remember they asked if I wanted medicine. I didn’t know what for, and I didn’t trust anyone.’
Following the winning settlement, Partridge’s attorney David Lane said in a statement: “He refused his medication and was in a psychotic state. Ryan Partridge plucked his own eyeballs off his head.
“It is hoped that this settlement sends a signal to the Boulder Sheriff and law enforcement everywhere that ignoring the serious psychiatric needs of inmates will cost them millions of dollars.”
The lawsuit read: “Throughout 2016, Mr. Partridge was in and out of the Boulder County Jail, each time showing unmistakable signs of serious mental illness and being periodically removed from jail to attend the state hospital or an affiliated facility. treatment center in an effort to restore legal capacity to pursue the petty criminal charges against him.
“The prison knew full well that Mr. Partridge suffered from schizophrenia.
“Had any of the defendants initiated proper medical intervention on Mr. Partridge’s behalf, he wouldn’t be blind today, wouldn’t have broken seven teeth or jumped off the second row and hit his head against the metal table and cement floor of the jail.” and breaking his back.’
The sheriff’s office said they did not believe their staff had defaulted, but “hope the settlement will put an end to Mr. Partridge.”