Nationwide — Kingsley Fifi Bimpong, an African American man from Eagan, Minnesota, died after police and jail officers mistook his stroke for drug impairment. A federal lawsuit claims he was left untreated for hours regardless of exhibiting clear indicators of a medical emergency.
On November 16, 2024, Bimpong left his shift on the Eagan Postal Distribution Heart after telling coworkers he had a headache. Later that evening, police noticed his automotive driving the fallacious method on Pilot Knob Highway and hitting a median. When stopped, he appeared disoriented and confused, unable to recall the place he lived or labored, even whereas carrying his USPS vest.
In line with 11Alive, officers famous there was no odor of alcohol however referred to as in Officer Martin Jensen, a licensed Drug Recognition Evaluator, to find out if Bimpong was impaired. Physique digital camera footage later confirmed Jensen dismissing the necessity for a full analysis, saying it could be “an entire bunch of time wasted.” When one other officer steered taking Bimpong to the hospital, Jensen replied, “For what?”
Bimpong was arrested on suspicion of DWI and brought to the Dakota County Jail after a blood draw. Video footage reportedly confirmed him stumbling, collapsing, and mendacity immobile in his cell, unable to manage his bladder. Regardless of this, guards repeatedly logged “inmate and cell OK.”
For greater than three hours, officers walked previous his cell as he lay on the ground. A nurse was lastly referred to as when a guard observed him foaming on the mouth and shaking. Assuming a drug overdose, the nurse administered Narcan thrice, however it had no impact. When paramedics arrived, his blood strain was a harmful 240/216. He was rushed to a hospital, however was already in essential situation.
Medical doctors discovered that Bimpong had suffered an enormous mind hemorrhage brought on by a stroke. Exams confirmed there have been no medicine in his system. He was declared mind useless on November 19, 2024, three days after the incident.
The lawsuit names the Metropolis of Eagan, Dakota County, and a number of other officers, accusing them of ignoring clear stroke signs and failing to comply with correct procedures. Investigations later revealed that some jail workers lacked up-to-date CPR and first-aid coaching, and wellness checks weren’t correctly carried out.
Bimpong had labored for the U.S. Postal Service since 2016 and had no felony document. He leaves behind a daughter and relations in Ghana.
