Woman arrested at gunpoint during life-threatening stroke as cop thought she was intoxicated

12 February 2024, 09:54 | Updated: 12 February 2024, 10:03

The woman had been suffering a stroke when a cop arrested her on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
The woman had been suffering a stroke when a cop arrested her on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Picture: Dubin Law Group

By Jenny Medlicott

A woman is suing a police department after she was handcuffed at gunpoint while suffering a stroke because an officer thought she was intoxicated.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Nicole McClure, 40, crashed her car while driving due to a stroke before she was ordered out of the vehicle and handcuffed at gunpoint by a Washington police officer.

Ms McClure is now suing Thurston County police for ignoring the symptoms of her stroke after she was arrested.

Dashcam footage taken of the arrest shows the shocking moment officer Jonathan Barnes slams the woman on the hood of his car before interrogating her.

“When’s the last time you used meth? When was the last time you used heroin?” the state trooper demands in the footage.

Ms McClure replies: “I haven't … I don’t. I'm confused. I think I'm tired.”

She was later taken to jail where she was allegedly mocked by staff as she lay on the floor of a cell vomiting and incontinent for more than 24 hours without help.

After finally receiving medical attention, Ms McClure was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery and had to have part of her head removed. She was admitted to hospital for 17 days.

In a statement from her attorneys, Anne Vankirk said: “Nicole recalls being laughed at and told ‘Have another shot’.

“Had Nicole received immediate medical attention, her condition would have been significantly easier to treat and the outcome far less severe.”

Read more: Terrifying moment a group of thugs armed with baseball bats try to rob customers at London pub

Read more: Man ‘threatening passengers with acid’ arrested after stand-off on bus in south London

Ms McClure had left work early in March 2022 due to suffering from a headache and dizziness.

Officer Barnes spotted her driving too slowly and veering in and out of her lane while travelling home to Olympia.

Despite trying to pull her over, Ms McClure did not respond and eventually crashed her car into a roundabout.

After crashing the car, the officer pulled out his gun and ordered her to step out of the vehicle.

Ms McClure exited the car with her hands up but was later accused of resisting arrest because she clutched onto her car keys despite Barnes instructing her to let go.

“She's trying to use these keys to stab,” he said.

“She's trying to use these keys as a weapon.”

She was arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving and felony evading.

Ms McClure was not tested for drugs or alcohol at the scene of the crash but was taken to a nearby hospital by Barnes and tested for the substances there, which came back negative.

While in jail, Ms McClure had repeatedly asked for help and was found in a puddle of her own urine almost 24 hours later, her attorney said.

She was later helped onto a bed in a cell by jail staff when she began “vomiting uncontrollably” and was moved to a second cell and “forcibly changed” out of her clothes.

It was only hours later that the jail’s medical team was notified and advised for her to be taken to hospital immediately, the lawsuit claims.

Pressure had been building inside her brain due to a frontal lobe subdural hematoma.

The delay to her treatment for the stroke means Ms McClure has been left permanently disabled, the lawsuit also claims.

“Nicole is a hardworking young woman who will never be the same again,” Ms Vankirk said.

“Despite the fact that she was observed to be in a car-disabling collision, no medical evaluation was offered to her.

“She suffers from severe traumatic brain injury and remains unable to care for herself or engage with life in meaningful ways.”

A spokesman for Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said: “While we can't discuss the specifics of any pending litigation, I can confirm that the safety of inmates, staff, and the general public remains a top priority for the Thurston County Corrections Facility.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Kanye West, left, and Bianca Censori arrive at the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Bianca Censori shares true feelings towards Kanye West's nude Grammys stunt

Landlords face £6k bill to meet higher energy efficiency standards on rental homes by 2030 under government plans

Landlords face £6k bill to meet higher energy efficiency standards on rental homes by 2030 under government plans

Pope Francis meets Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla Duchess of Cornwall at the Vatican on April 4, 2017.

King Charles and Queen Camilla to meet Pope Francis during state visit to Italy

A British couple was reportedly found dead by a neighbour in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue.

British couple found dead inside 'isolated' French villa in 'feared burglary gone wrong'

Exclusive
Commuter backlash after Network Rail 'erases trains from departure boards' early to 'ease rush'

Commuter backlash after Network Rail 'erases trains from departure boards early' to 'ease passenger rush'

b

Knife arches in schools are welcome - but who is going to pay for them?

James Evans, 19, left, and Justin Keeling (formerly Evans), 18, right, have admitted to starting a massive fire that sparked a mass evacuation.

Two teens admit starting huge fire that 'ripped residents out of homes' during summer riots

Inga Gehricke, five, went missing following a family barbecue in Germany back in 2015.

Police launch fresh search efforts for missing girl linked to prime Madeleine McCann suspect

v

School named after Prince Andrew set to rebrand to something less 'controversial'

The Princess Royal during a visit to Southmead Hospital in Bristol to thank the team of doctors, nurses and health professionals who treated her following her accident in June 2024.

Princess Anne returns to the intensive care unit where she had treatment for head injuries

A utility firm has admitted its equipment started one of the LA fires last month.

California utility says its equipment likely sparked fire that raged through LA

Yusuf Kayat, 54, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, has been jailed for 20 years

Paedophile who plied girl, 10, with alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis before grooming her for sex with other men jailed

Salim Iskef, 29, was one of ten people killed by lone gunman Rickard Andersson, 35, at Orebro's Risbergska adult education centre on Tuesday.

Heartbreaking final words of Sweden mass shooting victim shared with mum and fiancé revealed

Exclusive
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks to the media during a visit to Springfields (Preston Lab), National Nuclear Laboratory.

UK must make it harder to buy knives online to prevent repeat of Southport killings, PM tells LBC

UK resident comes forward to claim £83m EuroMillions jackpot

UK winner comes forward to claim £83.5million EuroMillions jackpot 13 days after draw

Cold Snap Brings Freezing Temperatures To Parts Of UK

Cold health alerts issued as temperatures set to plummet over weekend as the Beast from the East returns