A student is alleging University of Wyoming Police Department officers physically injured him when he was removed from class after suffering from an epileptic seizure.
Garret VonKronsigk, a senior in petroleum engineering said he sustained a broken wrist, an injured shoulder and bruises over his body, including his eye and wrist, after being forcefully removed from his senior design class where he was supposed to be giving a presentation, according to the Boomerang.
“I would not have sustained physical injuries if allowed to peacefully return to class,” VonKronsigk said.
According to the Laramie Boomerang, VonKronsigk said he has suffered from seizures all his life and suffered a seizure in the hallway outside the classroom before waking up to find himself surrounded by EMTs and UWPD officers. He said he then returned to class believing he was cleared to do so after answering the EMTs questions. VonKronsigk said, however, does not remember being told by EMTs that he was cleared to go back to class.
Two EMTs and a UWPD officer then came into the classroom, saying VonKronsigk would be arrested unless he allowed them to check his vitals before being forcefully removed from class., according to the Laramie Boomerang.
Chad Baldwin, Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing, said VonKronsigk was taken to the hospital for safety purposes.
“The student was taken to the hospital under direction of medical professionals to protect the safety of him and other students,” he said.
VonKronsigk disagrees.
“People in my situation would not sustain injuries, and would be able to successfully return to class within a few minutes if unknowledgeable respondents would not insist on getting involved and physically restraining and agitating epileptics in a postictal state,” VonKronsigk said.
Baldwin said that UWPD will be reviewed for their conduct.
“As with all complaints against the UW Police Department, this will be reviewed,” Baldwin said. “The safety of our students is the university’s top priority.”
VonKronsigk said something positive might have come from the experience.
“Being treated like a violent criminal because of my disability is disheartening and embarrassing,” VonKronsigk said. “Maybe my experience will help others facing the same challenges as me and spread awareness for epilepsy.”
VonKronsigk said this incident is a result of poor training.
“This obviously demonstrates lack of professionally and/or insufficient training,” VanKronsigk said. “Our president, Laurie Nichols, even admitted that there seems to be a lack of training for these types of situations among university employees.”
VonKronsigk says he is trying not to allow this experience to influence any aspect of his education.
VonKronsigk said that this was not the first time he had been injured by UWPD.
“This is not the first time a University Officer responded erroneously to my particular situation,” he said. “A few years ago, a school officer, ‘tackled me like a linebacker,’ according to another student in Coe Library.”
VonKronsigk sustained injuries from the incident as well.
“Ultimately, I had the obligation to speak out not only for my wellbeing but for the wellbeing of future students,” VonKronsigk said.
UWPD declined to comment.
