CJC Reopens After Elevator Crash Paralyzes Sheriff's Deputy From Waist Down
By Kristen Johanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia's Criminal Justice Center re-opened today after last week's elevator malfunction that critically injured a sheriff's employee.
Public elevators inside the CJC are now open, but staff elevators remain closed while the state continues to investigate.
Philadelphia Sheriff Jewell Williams says tests were done over the weekend to ensure they are safe for people to ride.
"We are assisting the courts in crowd control and getting people to the floors they need to get to, and using additional elevators in the rear of the building."
Forty-eight-year-old Sheriff Deputy Sergeant Paul Owens is paralyzed from the waist down after the elevator he was riding in sped up and hit the ceiling last Thursday.
"He's still going through a lot of trauma. His condition is the same, induced coma, and there are some complications right now."
"The family is praying for the best and all of us are."
A GoFundMe page has been created for Sgt. Paul Owens.