TB Patient Flees U.S. "Abuse" For Russia

Had Been In Solitary Confinement In Arizona Hospital Ward Since August 2006

(AP)  A tuberculosis patient, whose months-long incarceration in an Arizona hospital jail ward led to sharp criticism, has left the United States, unable to "take the abuse" any more, his attorney said.

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.

Arpaio -- stung by negative news accounts about his treatment of Daniels -- said Monday he intended to have the man arrested for reckless endangerment, but was prevented from doing so because investigators have been unable to get medical files as evidence.

Arpaio said he believes Daniels was under court order not to leave the U.S.

"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?"

Daniels was born in Moscow to an American father and Russian mother.

[wolfboi1970]

JUST THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE FLEEING THIS COUNTRY TO RUSSIA SHOULD TELL US ALL HOW MESSED UP AMERICA IS...THIS COUNTRY SUCKS ANYMORE...AND IF WE ARE GONNA HANG THIS GUY FOR BEING SICK WHY NOT THAT SCUMBAG CRACKER FROM ATLANTA GEORGIA??? WHY DIDNT WE THROW HIS BUTT IN JAIL HE WAS A BIGGER LOOSER THAN THE RUSSIAN...THAT GEORGIAN EVADED INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITIES AND SNUCK IN OUR BOARDERS...HE WAS NOT TREATED 1/2/ AS BADLY....IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO AMERICAN POLICY AND SOME ARE PRIVLAGED AND SOME ARE NOT....SOME HEARD SOME SILENCED.... HOW VERY SAD

[michellem99-2009]

glad he is happy out side this nation.. Some are too poor to leave and are not welcomed in nations as They are American with health issues

[fennychan]

Ozark_sun
Your statement is dead on the money, he should be locked up for a reason, with TB almost gone why would he want to bring it back?

[xcomb]

Shame on you Extremophil!
Living in US i realized that the place is not for humans at all, i left that country and i am happy being in Russia, i feel sorry for that guy, that he had to go through all this bs in his own country, everyone would do the same thing to flee the country, if there is no human relationship and hate from government!

[xcomb]

I don''t understand people saying good idea to go to Russia and give them TB!
What are we not a humans something to say that in public?
Or you hate us that much as a Russian citizens?
Well who ever you are, shame on you!

For the person who fled the US country i feel bad for him, having to go through all the bs in United States, course they don''t really respect people at all and they have no love for humans being!
I move out myself from US and tell ya i feel great leaving that country, after living 6 years in anger and hate from government.

[kansas1946]

"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?"
*********************************************

Well, I think that the celebrity has gone to Mr. Arpaio''s head. To treat a person like a hardened criminal just because he is sick is pretty goofy. And when a person "runs to Russia" to avoid oppresion in the US, you KNOW something is effed up!

[kong_lau39]

Good riddance! Did his bride and father-in-law go with him? Maybe Putin will give him (them) a warm bear-hug.

[Ozark_Sunshine]

glb1969 - you must be wacko. This man was risking other peoples lives, just the same as a person with aids having unprotected relations. He was locked up for a reason, not that you would understand. The sheriff is a hero because he enforces the law and doesn''t coddle these criminals like you weak-kneed libs want.

[vastr-wcon]

.
It is refreshing to have a dedicated official like Sheriff Arpaio actually ENFORCE the law. Beats those others that see "law enforcement" as just "eating donuts".

.

[glb1969]

Wow, I have never heard anything nearly so bad as they way this Hitler wannabe Arpaio treated this poor sick diseased fellow. Imagine treating him like a prisoner so inhumanely that he fled to Russia for better care and treatment? I certainly hope the citizens of Phoenix recall this fascist from office and imprison him for a few months against his will and see how he likes it.