Robert Daniels Flees America for Russia

BZM · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 05:40 AM

Several months ago, I wrote about Robert Daniels, the tuberculosis patient who was being held in solitary confinement in an Arizona jail since August 2006. A few days ago Robert Daniels fled the United States for Russia stating he was no longer able to "take the abuse."

Quote:

Robert Daniels, 27, who was suffering from a drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis after returning from Russia last year, had been placed in solitary confinement in a Maricopa Medical Center jail ward in August 2006 under court order after medical authorities complained he had endangered others.

He underwent lung surgery last month and doctors ruled that Daniels, who holds Russian and American citizenship, was no longer contagious. He had been living in a Phoenix-area motel under monitoring by Maricopa County Public Health officials for the past few weeks.

Attorney Linda Cosme said Daniels sent her an e-mail from Moscow after arriving there on a flight Sunday.

"He apologized," Cosme said. "Essentially, he could not take the abuse from the county. He felt threatened (by Sheriff Joe Arpaio). He just couldn't take it any more."

Following complaints from health officials, a judge had ruled Daniels recklessly exposed others to his illness by going out in public without a mask.

While in custody, the authorities treated Daniels as an inmate, confining him in isolation and under video surveillance most of the time. Daniels was not given a phone, shower, television or other comforts...

"Maybe now they (the public) will understand this guy is untrustworthy," Arpaio told The Arizona Republic for its Tuesday editions. "He lies . . . and he skipped. What, did the heat get too much for him? He had to run to Russia?"

Link to Article: TB Patient Flees U.S. "Abuse" For Russia, Had Been In Solitary Confinement In Arizona Hospital Ward Since August 2006 - CBS News

Solitary confinement for 14 months with no shower, phone, television, or even a meeting with his lawyer when he was never charged with a crime. Sure he needed to go outside with a mask, but this treatment was crazy.

The Arizona press had been stating that Robert might be held until his death, so I am not surprised that he was forced to do something when he had the chance.

Additional Articles:

BZM · #2 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 12:17 AM

In the Prvada article on Robert Daniels fleeing to Russia it mentions that Daniels may not be out of the clear in Russia if he is found to still be contagious:

Quote:

Daniels may have trouble if Russian authorities find he still has tuberculosis. If he entered the country as a Russian citizen, authorities would be required to quarantine and treat him, while if he arrived as a foreigner, they would be required to deport him.