Original Blog Entry: Disabled man crawls from jail after wheelchair is lost

truesee — Thu, 26 May 2011 02:01:42 GMT

Disabled man crawls from jail after his wheelchair is lost

Carla Casta o

Published: 7:25

Updated: 4:16 pm

Multnomah County deputies are investigating the case of a disabled inmate who wound up crawling from the downtown Portland jail when he was released because his wheelchair could not be found.

Portland police arrested 37-year-old Scott Hamilton on Sunday evening for sitting--drinking a beer on public property. He was wanted on an earlier arrest warrant for the same offense, so officers took him into custody, giving him a receipt for the wheelchair.

Hamilton is missing a leg after a car accident. He said he is also a Navy war veteran.

When he was released early Monday, his wheelchair was nowhere to be found. The Oregonian says Hamilton wound up scooting on his rear out through the jail lobby doors.

Wednesday aftrnoon, Hamilton was personally picked up by sheriff's deputies and reunited with his wheelchair. Hamilton says he deserves at least an apology and credit for time served.

Sheriff's chief deputy of corrections Mike Shults says it's not common practice for someone to crawl out of their custody.

Police spokesman Pete Simpson says the wheelchair was eventually located at the police property warehouse.

LINK TO PHOTO:

http://www.koinlocal6.com/mostpopular/story/Disabled-man-crawls-from-jail-after-his/fT56ssC6ikWSA4-h6fGBpw.cspx

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