Help Tracy Ingle find justice.
Tracy is yet another innocent victim of no-knock warrants and the so-called war on drugs. Please read his story below and take a look at the limited press coverage of the incident. Everyone in America needs to hear about this and we need your help to keep Tracy's story alive.
5/13/2008 - Update
Tracy is seriously suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. Arkansas does not provide medical coverage to people under 65 unless they are considered permanently disabled or pregnant, therefor Tracy has no medical coverage. Since January 7, 2008, Tracy has accumulated well over 75,000 in medical bills due to the shooting. Unfortunately, he is not able to get the appropriate psychiatric care or medical care he needs because he has no insurance or ability to pay.
What causes PTSD?
Virtually any event that is life-threatening or that severely compromises the emotional well-being of an individual may cause PTSD. Such events often include either experiencing or witnessing a severe accident or physical injury, receiving a life-threatening medical diagnosis, being the victim of kidnapping or torture, exposure to combat or to a natural disaster, other disaster (for example, plane crash) or terrorist attack, being the victim of rape, mugging, robbery or assault; enduring physical, sexual, emotional or other forms of abuse, as well as involvement in civil conflict.
What are the risk factors and protective factors for PTSD?
Issues that tend to put people at higher risk for developing PTSD include increased duration of a traumatic event, higher severity of the trauma experienced, having an emotional condition prior to the event, or having little social support in the form of family or friends. In addition to those risk factors, children and adolescents, females, and people with learning disabilities or violence in the home have a greater risk of developing PTSD after a traumatic event.
Symptoms of PTSD:
Through years of research, 17 symptoms have been identified that make up PTSD. These symptoms are listed in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (or DSM-IV). These 17 symptoms are divided into three separate clusters. The three PTSD symptom clusters, and the specific symptoms that make up these clusters, are described below.
Re-Experiencing Symptoms Frequently having upsetting thoughts or memories about a traumatic event.
Having recurrent nightmares.
Acting or feeling as though the traumatic event were happening again, sometimes called a "flashback."
Having very strong feelings of distress when reminded of the traumatic event.
Being physically responsive, such as experiencing a surge in your heart rate or sweating, to reminders of the traumatic event.
Avoidance Symptoms Making an effort to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations about the traumatic event.
Making an effort to avoid places or people that remind you of the traumatic event.
Having a difficult time remembering important parts of the traumatic event.
A loss of interest in important, once positive, activities.
Feeling distant from others.
Experiencing difficulties having positive feelings, such as happiness or love.
Feeling as though your life may be cut short.
Hyperarousal Symptoms Having a difficult time falling or staying asleep.
Feeling more irritable or having outbursts of anger.
Having difficulty concentrating.
Feeling constantly "on guard" or like danger is lurking around every corner.
Being "jumpy" or easily startled.
Tracy feels constantly stuck in the middle of this tragedy. He constantly has to live each day dealing with the physical and mental problems left by this senseless tragedy. If dealing with those issues were not bad enough he has to deal with the legal side as well. He cannot escape....he is already living in his own prison. I am Tracy's sister and my name is Tiffney Forrester. I refuse to allow these people to destroy my brother.
If you or someone you know is suffering from PTSD Please seek help. Don't leave them to deal with this pain on their own..............
Tiffney Forrester
Press Coverage
5/14/2008 - Radley Balko Update - Reason Magazine
http://www.reason.com/blog/
Shot in the Dark - David Koon
Radley Balko - The Agitator
Reason.com - Tracy Ingle: Another Drug War Outrage
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/12/102139/213/464/514132
http://www.november.org/
Information About the Incident
Tracy Ingle was asleep in his house when armed police using a no-knock warrant burst in. Unsure about what was happening, he reached for a non-functioning pistol, but began to drop it as soon as he realized who they were. The gesture was too late -- officers shot him 5 times.
Mercifully, he survived, but despite not finding any drugs in his house, Tracy is being charged with two felony counts of Aggravated Assault, drug paraphernalia and running a drug premises. He is in very poor physical shape and obviously not doing well psychologically, due to the incident. Many people in his town and even family find it easier to believe the police would not make such a big mistake. Of course Tracy's neighbor -- who saw the whole thing -- believes him, but the police have intimidated him to near silence. Everyone who speaks to his neighbor privately hears his story, but after the police "questioned" him for 4 hours and "advised" him not to get involved, he has refused to testify or go on the record.
5/14/2008 - Tracy is now being represented by John Wesley Hall Jr. from Little Rock Arkansas.
Tracy's situation is currently at rock bottom. He has not received the care he needs, he cannot work, he cannot drive, and is he suffering from PTSD ever since the incident. He does not know who he can trust and lives in fear of the local police. Tracy needs help in paying his hospital bills, medical expenses (such as continued care), medications, counseling and transportation expenses.
How you can help
A note from your friendly webmaster: It wasn't Tracy's (or Tiffney's) idea to ask for handouts, it was only by the suggestion and help of others that this site was erected. That doesn't mean Tracy doesn't need financial help; he is still lacking adequate medical care, he is out of money and he cannot work. Tiffney is a single mother and full-time student, so she is already stretched to her limit trying to help him out. No one else in their family can help financially, either. So, financial support would be much appreciated. Words of kindness would also help them get through this. Lastly, media attention and exposure is important. Not just for them, but for this country. Link it on your blog, post this site to social news aggregators, send it to your local paper. Please contact Tiffney if you want more detailed information for a story.
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Tracy and his family are out of money and facing large medical and legal expenses. You can help out by donating via PayPal to jntstellitano@gmail.com (OR Just click on the Donate button below) We would like all of you to know that if Tracy wins a Civil Lawsuit pertaining to this case, all donations made will be reimbursed. So that we can all afford to continue to help others in the future.
You can also send your support to (cards & letters are also welcome):
Tiffney Forrester
4024 Franklin Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15214
Tiffney is Tracy's outside contact right now, you can send letters of support to him through her. You can email her with the contact form below.
If you would like to voice support for Tracy's case, you can contact officials in his town with the information in the "voice support" page on the left.
You may also want to visit the links section and visit and/or support those organizations.
Contact Tiffney via Email
