Policing

‘There’s a lot of screaming’: South Dakota cops are collecting suspects’ urine by force

The Argus Leader reports that police in South Dakota have resorted to using catheters to extract urine samples from uncooperative suspects. This procedure, while endorsed by the state’s top prosecutor, has been decried by critics as a potential violation of suspects’ constitutional rights.

Tim Whalen, a South Dakota attorney who has represented clients who have had their urine forcibly extracted, tells The Argus Leader that police performing the procedure don’t even anesthetize them beforehand.

“There’s a lot of screaming and hollering,” Whalen said of suspects who undergo forced catheterization.

Given how painful this procedure is, most suspects agree to give a urine sample right after they receive a catheterization threat, but others figure they’ll take their chances in the hospital.