Judge Orders Hospitalization for Inmate at Cold Brooklyn Jail, Reports Reuters

By Gina Cherelus

A New York judge has directed authorities to transfer a jailed asthma patient to a hospital, while rejecting his request for emergency bail from the Brooklyn federal detention center that recently experienced a failure in heat and power during the frigid weather conditions last week.

The ruling came as Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, alleging that the Federal Bureau of Prisons has subjected inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) to inhumane living conditions.

These conditions prompted protests outside the facility over the weekend, led by the friends and family of the incarcerated individuals, along with calls for action from government officials.

The firm’s statement highlighted the lawsuit’s aim of securing urgent relief for what they described as "deplorable and rapidly deteriorating conditions," which include prolonged periods with inadequate heat, light, and medical care for inmates.

Officials reported that power and heating were restored at the prison on Sunday following a disruption caused by an electrical fire on January 27, which left many of the over 1,600 inmates in cold and dark cells for days. However, inmate lawyers have contested this assertion, claiming that some sections of the facility remained without power.

In a separate session on Monday, a judge reinstated the right for attorneys to meet with their clients at the detention center after the federal authorities had suspended such visits. A further hearing on this matter is set for February 13.

Wyn Hornbuckle, spokesperson for the U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, stated that conditions at the facility have returned to normal. He added that the department would collaborate with the Bureau to understand the incidents that occurred and ensure that safeguards are implemented to prevent future occurrences.

The legal representatives for Dino Sanchez, who has been at the detention center since January 16, sought emergency bail, arguing that he was not receiving adequate medical treatment for his chronic asthma condition. Benjamin Yaster, an attorney from the Federal Defenders of New York, noted that the power outage obstructed Sanchez’s ability to request necessary medical care via the facility’s computer system.

Yaster further asserted that Sanchez faced significant difficulty breathing, stating that he had been "spitting up blood" in his cell over the weekend.

During the hearing at the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, Judge Ann Donnelly denied the bail application, citing concerns that Sanchez posed a threat to society, but acknowledged his right to receive proper medical attention. A second hearing on this issue has been scheduled for Tuesday.

Sanchez, who appeared in court wearing a tan jumpsuit, is suspected of involvement in a heroin distribution operation in Brooklyn, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice. During the proceedings, he seemed to be shivering and was seen clutching his chest.