Cops: Clot killed woman arrested in hospital tiff

She refused to leave after discharge, citing difficulties.

A TALLAHASSEE, FLA.— blood clot in her lung killed a woman who collapsed while being arrested for refusing to leave a Florida hospital after she was discharged, officials saidWednesday.

Police say Barbara Dawson, 57, collapsed Monday while being escorted in handcuffs from the Liberty Calhoun Hospital, where she went for treatment for breathing difficulties. She was arrested for disorderly conduct and trespassing when she refused to leave, according to police.

In a statementWednesday, Blountstown police Chief Mark Mallory said the medical examiner’s office in Panama City found that Dawson died from a blood clot due to being excessively overweight.

The autopsy report, police report and dashcam footage of the incident have not been released.

Mallory said the officer who arrested Dawson removed the handcuffs after she collapsed and escorted her back into the hospital.

“We were told by a doctor once she got back in the hospital that her vital signs were good and it was their decision to readmit her,” he said in a phone interview.

He said the dashcam footage from the officer’s car does not show the incident but does pick up the audio.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials have been called in to investigate, department spokesman Steve Arthur said. He declined to comment further.

Ruth Attaway, administrator and CEO of the 25-bed hospital, said staff did everything they could for Dawson.

“They did their best trying to save her,” Attaway said.

While doctors initially thought Dawson was stable and should be released, she felt as if she still had breathing issues and wanted to stay, said Tallahassee attorney Daryl Parks, who is representing Dawson’s family.