Baltimore riots: Thousands arrested denied entry to detention centres due to serious injuries

Newly released records show that thousands arrested by Baltimore Police were so injured that they were refused admittance to Baltimore City Detention Center.

According to The Baltimore Sun, which obtained the records, the detention center refused to admit nearly 2,600 detainees from June 2012 to April 2015. Correctional officers noted several different types of injuries on detainees, included facial trauma, broken bones and hypertension.

Head injuries were reported in 123 cases of detainees denied entry, The Baltimore Sun reported. The jail records, which were obtained through a Maryland Public Information Act request, redacted names of detainees but The Sun discovered similar issues among those making police brutality allegations.

Critics have said the reports prove that Baltimore City police officers are not concerned about the condition of detainees when they are arrested and taken to jail.

Lawyer A Dwight Pettit told The Baltimore Sun: "It goes to demonstrate the callous indifference the officers show when they are involved with the public." Pettit, who has a history of suing police officers, added, "Why would they render medical care when they rendered many of the injuries on the people?"

However, law enforcement experts argue that officers lack the training to detect injuries and that some suspects fake injuries to avoid being jailed.

The Baltimore Sun also uncovered over 100 lawsuits against officers in which detainees claim police caused severe injuries during arrests and ignored appeals for medical attention. Those lawsuits resulted in more than $6m (£3.8m) in court judgments and settlements.

Baltimore Police have come under intense scrutiny after a young black man sustained a spinal injury while in police custody and died several days after his arrest. The unexplained death of Freddie Gray sparked nationwide protests and led to six police officers being arrested and charged in his murder.