Woman feeding cats suffered brain injury after firefighter pressed her, family says

In reaction, Hvegholm knocked at the firemen for a couple of seconds prior to he tossed her to the ground, video footage programs. Hvegholm returned home with an inflamed swelling on her forehead and was later on identified with a distressing brain injury, according to her family.

On March 29, Hvegholm submitted a suit in Nevada’s Washoe County, declaring that the firemen, Timothy Egan, damaged her with extreme force.

“Hvegholm has suffered a severe decline in her quality of life, her ability to move about freely, and her ability to care for herself independent of her children — as well as a looming sense of panic, terror, and lack of security in her home,” the suit states.

A spokesperson for the city of Sparks said Egan is still utilized by the Sparks Fire Department however decreased to comment even more. Egan’s lawyer likewise decreased to comment.

During a city board conference recently, Hvegholm’s child, Marc, called the occurrence “an egregious act that should never have occurred.”

“I have no explanation for why that would’ve happened,” he said.

In a declaration to the Sparks Police Department after the occurrence, Egan composed that he was getting particles in the street on Dec. 8, 2022, when a lady yelled at him. He composed that the lady — later on determined as Hvegholm — tossed cat food and a bowl of water at him prior to he “pushed her away.”

“I created space because I was concerned her intentions were more violence,” Egan composed, including that he informed Hvegholm to stay on the ground while he called 911.

Hvegholm composed in a different declaration to cops that she was leaving products for the cats when Egan appeared in the street and said he was going to tidy up. She composed that he got rid of a cardboard box which contained tins of food and water.

Hvegholm composed that she asked him to leave her products alone. As she collected her possessions, she said, Egan got them, which frightened and puzzled her.

“The next thing I knew I was being physically lifted up and my feet were no longer under me,” Hvegholm composed in her declaration. “He threw me facedown onto the concrete alley. I don’t remember hitting the ground, I just remember being stunned and disorientated.”

Surveillance videos from the station house, launched by Hvegholm’s attorney, program Hvegholm positioning food, water and cardboard boxes in the street as Egan drives by. After a couple of minutes, Egan can be seen walking to the street and getting products Hvegholm had actually put on the ground. Hvegholm turns towards Egan and swings her right arm two times previously Egan gets her and tosses her down, video programs.

Egan is seen standing over Hvegholm for a couple of seconds prior to walking back to the station house. Hvegholm stumbled the opposite method.

Later that day, Hvegholm’s child drove her to the Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, where medical professionals said Hvegholm had actually suffered a concussion, according to her family.

A cops occurrence report mentioned that Egan’s actions were “justified and did not constitute a battery,” while officers pointed out Hvegholm for battery, according to cops records. The citation was dropped Dec. 19 after her kids talked to cops.

Gayla Ouellette, Hvegholm’s child, said that firemens had actually formerly informed Hvegholm not to feed the roaming cats. Firefighters informed cops that the cats climb onto and scratch their equipment, according to the occurrence report.

At the city board conference April 24, Ouellette informed commissioners that Hvegholm didn’t present a danger or break the law.

“The only transgression my mom committed was feeding homeless cats in what had been a particularly brutal winter here in northern Nevada,” Ouellette said. “And the last time I checked, being kind to animals was not a crime.”

Hvegholm sustained other injuries on her head, neck, back, legs, arms and organs, the suit declares. She now experiences headaches, nerve discomfort, stress and anxiety and trauma, Ouellette said, and she strolls with a walking stick. Since that day in December, Hvegholm has actually fallen face-first in her cooking area several times, Ouellette said, and her memory has actually degraded.

“My mom is also feeling a great sense of shame,” Ouellette informed The Washington Post. “Not at anything that she did, but because this happened to her and nobody’s doing anything about it. It’s like stating, ‘You’re not worth anybody caring about,’ or ‘You deserve it in some way.’”

Ouellette said Hvegholm likewise fears leaving her home. On Wednesday, Hvegholm informed Ouellette that she was frightened to purchase milk at a supermarket for worry that firemens would follow her, Ouellette said. About 20 minutes later on, Ouellette said, her mother recalled and duplicated the very same issues.

Hvegholm’s suit is asking for more than $15,000 in damages, medical costs and legal costs. Ouellette said she likewise desires an apology from Egan.

Ouellette said her mom has actually continued to feed roaming cats, however she no longer approaches the street by the station house. Helping cats is among the only methods Hvegholm discovers function, Ouellette said, however if her health issue continue to get worse, even that little pleasure might be drawn from her.

“It almost feels like my mom is dying, and it makes me really sad,” Ouellette said. “She’s kind of a shell of herself right now. I look at my mom just at this moment, and I don’t really see that person there.”