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Person arrested by Clear Lake police claims mistreatment

Clear Lake Police Department
Clear Lake Police Department

CLEAR LAKE – A person arrested by Clear Lake police who now identifies as a man says he was mistreated once in custody, and wants the record clarified.

On September 20, 2014, Clear Lake police arrested Kathryn Jane Schmidt on charges of speeding, interference with official acts and assault on a peace officer.

Since that arrest, the charges were completely dismissed.

Now 22-years-old, Kathryn Jane Schmidt has changed his name to Rory James Schmidt and identifies as a male.

Schmidt asked that the original arrest story be deleted. As this is not NIT policy to simply delete a story about an event, arrest or occurrence that did happen, we did offer to update the story with new details. Here is information that Schmidt shared about his arrest on September 20, 2014:

“This is a false report. Those charges were dropped because police needed a reason to hold me. I never assaulted a police officer. I was in the middle of a nervous breakdown from personal and relationship stress. The police are not trained to deal with people in times of crisis. That is why I actively advocate for mental health training for all peace officers. My mom had called the cops because she was worried about me. It was supposed to be a welfare check.

“I drove away from an officer while he was running my driver’s license due to psychosis, which is a temporary loss of touch with reality and disability in being able to relate to and effectively understand others. I was pulled over again and forcibly removed from the car I had borrowed. I was in the area looking for a quiet place to do some writing. The car was towed and law enforcement held me at the police station handcuffed to a wall. I wanted to leave, so I slipped the handcuff and tried to walk away. A police officer grabbed me, so I tried to slip past him. He then forced me to sit back down.

“My mom eventually showed up, and I was given two options. I could either go to jail or go with my mom. I was simply in need of a quiet place to journal my thoughts since one was not available at home. My mom thought I was suicidal and was crying, so I chose to go to jail because I didn’t understand why she was so worried. I didn’t understand that the police were serious about taking me to jail. The entire car ride I was begging them to just let me go write.

“In jail I was put in a padded cell. A female officer placed her knee on my back with my chin against the floor; while looking up at the lights, she cut off all my friendship bracelets I had received from the time I had spent over the summer working at a local camp. She proceeded to forcibly remove all of my clothing. I was left entirely naked in that cell for a whole day before I was provided with clothing. I repeatedly asked what my charges were and if I could call an attorney, but my requests were ignored. I was told the sheriff didn’t want me making any phone calls. The whole time I had no idea why I was behind bars. Sometimes I would request water and not be given any. I was actively rejecting food because my mental health symptoms worsened from being isolated for so long. Before finally being transported to a hospital, I did etch something on the cell door. A police officer asked me what I was doing, and I replied, “Leaving some advice for the next person.” If you ever visit that cell, I believe the words of hope I left for others says, ‘You do you. Love yourself. Let them all go.’

“I have since found out my condition is PTSD, which was worsened from my run in with law enforcement in Cerro Gordo County, but I am finally receiving adequate treatment for it and undergoing therapy.”

Schmidt, Kathryn Jane SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
Booking photo of Schmidt at Cerro Gordo jail.  All charges were dropped.
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