Stroke victim sues sheriff's department

Rose Ebersole, a 70-year-old San Diego woman, says in a federal court lawsuit that a sheriff's deputy, demanding to get into her home, slammed her to the ground when she denied entrance, resulting in a stroke that has left her hospitalized for a year. The suit was filed November 22. The incident allegedly took place November 14 of last year.

Ebersole says she was burning plastic in her fireplace as a fire starter. Firefighters, responding to a complaint of excessive smoke, tried to get in the home. She blocked them. They called the sheriff's office, which sent an officer to inspect the place. Ebersole blocked the door and refused the cop entrance.

That's when the officer slammed her to the ground and handcuffed her. She suffered a stroke and half her body is paralyzed, according to the suit.