Christopher R. Lombardi, an openly gay resident of South Philadelphia, contends he was mistreated by Philadelphia police when he was arrested for driving under the influence last month.
Lombardi’s arrest occurred about 3:30 p.m. June 17 on Island Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia. He denies the DUI allegation.
On June 27, Lombardi filed a citizen’s complaint with the Philadelphia Police Department, alleging anti-LGBT bias.
He acknowledged pulling over to the side of the road and falling asleep. But he said paramedics administered an excessive amount of Narcan to wake him up, producing convulsions.
Lombardi said an arresting officer urged him to decline medical treatment, allegedly telling him he’d go home sooner if he did so.
“I felt I was medically neglected,” Lombardi told PGN. “Everything was all about the officer trying to force me through the system so she could go home. She kept trying get to me to tell the doctor at the hospital and the nurse at the Police Administration Building that I was fine. But I wasn’t.”
Lombardi, 33, also alleges that a paramedic at the scene of his arrest spoke to him in a homophobic manner.
The paramedic allegedly said: “You’re gay. I would think you would like jail.” The paramedic also allegedly said, “[W]e don’t have any gays or retards in my family,” according to Lombardi’s complaint.
Additionally, the paramedic allegedly questioned why people inside Pulse nightclub in Orlando didn’t fight back against Omar Mateen, adding: “Fifty gay guys or whatever dying is not that big of a deal.”
Lombardi said he was detained for about 17 hours at the Police Administration Building, he said.
“During much of that time I was verbally abused and my requests for medical attention were ignored,” Lombardi told PGN. “It was so careless how I was treated. I was brought into the [Police Administration] building in a tank top, shorts and socks. I had to walk out the next day barefoot. That’s how little they cared about my well being.”
A guard at the Police Administration Building allegedly said, “The fag is complaining again,” when referring to Lombardi, according to the complaint.
Lombardi said he continues to be affected by the alleged abuse, stating in the complaint: “Police are supposed to protect us, make us feel safe and represent truth and honesty,” the complaint concludes. “It’s not that I expect special rights or am ‘pulling the gay card.’ I am just so appalled at how unsafe I felt in the care of Philadelphia’s justice, legal and medical systems.”
Police spokesperson Lt. John Stanford issued this statement about Lombardi’s complaint: “The Philadelphia Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division is actively investigating Mr. Lombardi’s complaint. All [citizens’] complaints against police are public, so the public will have access to the findings regarding Mr. Lombardi’s complaint, just as they would any other complaint.”
