Inmate’s lawsuit dismissed against Johnson County Sheriff and Deputy

DAVENPORT – A lawsuit filed by a former Johnson County inmate against Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek and Deputy Robert Schuerer has been dismissed with prejudice in U.S. District Court – a ruling, which means it cannot be tried again.

Joseph Short, of Washington, Iowa, filed the suit last July, alleging that Pukabek and Schuere had violated his civil rights by showing a disregard for his safety and well being while he was in inmate at the county jail in 2008.

Short, who is now interned at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility, said the Johnson County jail staff repeatedly ignored his attempts to alert them about threats he received from another inmate, LeTar J. Harrison, who later pled guilty of assaulting Harrison, according to court documents.

On August 9, 2008, according to court documents, Harris entered Short's cell and assaulted him – repeatedly striking Short in the face and head and causing a fractured jaw, broken teeth and injuries to the face and mouth.

Short claims that he asked for medical attention until “the jail staff reluctantly examined his injuries and finally sought further medical treatment,” according to court documents.

The lawsuit claimed that Pulkrabek and Schuere were negligent in their responsibility for the safety, security, custody, control and well being of Short while he was in inmate at the county jail. Short was seeking jury judgement and compensation.

Short was sentenced to up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of third-degree burglary and one count of evading police after he repeatedly struck an autobody shop with his car and later led police on a 30-mile high-speed chase in January 2007.

In July 2008, Short faced further charges after he allegedly escaped from Hope House, a Coralville community correctional facility. Two months earlier, he had been charged with absence of custody after allegedly failing to report to the same facility.

Short is now serving up to 12 years in prison, according to the state Department of Corrections.

By Jim Malewitz, Sourcemedia Group