Amazon^® Worker Went Blind After Wrongful DWI Arrest, Suit Claims

When Paul Espinosa pulled into the parking lot of his Missouri Amazon^® warehouse on a July evening in 2022, he likely never imagined the night would end in a hospital — and with life-altering consequences.

What was initially believed to be a routine traffic stop for suspected drunk driving spiraled into a medical emergency, a legal firestorm, and a federal lawsuit.

A Routine Stop That Wasn't

According to a federal lawsuit filed in April 2025, Espinosa, 54, was pulled over by Greene County Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Winchell just after 6 p.m. on July 21, 2022. The incident occurred in Republic, Missouri, as Espinosa was arriving for his shift at the Amazon Fulfillment Center.

Deputy Winchell claimed Espinosa's vehicle had been weaving and, upon stopping him, noted bloodshot and glassy eyes and slurred speech — typical indicators of a possible DWI. But when Espinosa voluntarily submitted to a Breathalyzer test, the result showed 0.000% blood alcohol content, indicating no alcohol was in his system.

Despite this, Winchell proceeded with the arrest, citing Espinosa's swaying during a field sobriety test, leg tremors, and confusion with simple instructions as further signs of impairment.

Espinosa was taken to the Greene County Justice Center for processing.

A Medical Emergency Misread

PEOPLE reported that the lawsuit alleges that during transport, Espinosa began to sweat profusely despite the air conditioning being on — an early sign that something wasn't right. Once at the jail, his condition continued to worsen. According to court filings, staff noted that his motor skills were deteriorating, and he struggled to stand, walk, or follow directions.

By the second hour of his detainment, deputies described him as "sweating, drooling, slumping, slurring speech, staggering, (unable) to stand, (unable) to follow simple directions," and with signs of disorientation, according to PEOPLE.

Despite these symptoms, Espinosa was left in a holding cell for several hours. A nurse, identified in the lawsuit as Hannah Link, only evaluated him after two deputies found him slumped over. She reportedly noted "sluggish and non-reactive" pupils and described him as "weak" when asked if he knew what was happening — to which he allegedly responded, "No," according to PEOPLE.

There is no official documentation of the nurse consulting with the jail's part-time doctor, Jose Dominguez, although the lawsuit claims a progress note indicated the physician was contacted and gave "no new orders," according to the Springfield News-Leader.

A Delayed Hospital Transfer — And Irreversible Harm

Around 2 a.m. — more than seven hours after his initial arrest — Espinosa was transported to Cox North Hospital by an officer in what the department described as a "courtesy ride," according to Springfield News-Leader.

No ambulance was used, and 911 logs reportedly show no dispatch or radio traffic related to this medical transport.

At the hospital, according to Law & Crime, the lawsuit alleges the officer misrepresented the circumstances to staff, claiming they found Espinosa in his car and noticed he "was having trouble speaking."

Doctors at Cox North immediately diagnosed a cerebral stroke. He was transferred to Cox South for intensive care. Due to the delay, Espinosa missed the critical three-hour window for receiving tPA — a clot-busting medication that can significantly improve stroke outcomes when administered promptly.

As a result, his attorneys say, he is now permanently blind and suffers additional mental and physical impairments that prevent him from returning to work.

Legal Fallout and Lawsuit Details

Espinosa's complaint names nine employees from the Greene County Sheriff's Office, including Deputy Winchell, Nurse Link, and jail medical contractor Dr. Dominguez, as well as the sheriff himself. The lawsuit claims violations of Espinosa's constitutional rights, deliberate indifference to his medical needs, and medical negligence.

A separate civil complaint in Greene County Circuit Court had been filed in 2024 against Link and Dominguez but was voluntarily dismissed within a month, according to court records.

The toxicology results from the blood sample taken during Espinosa's booking reportedly didn't return to the sheriff's office until February 2024. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol Crime Lab, no controlled substances were found in his system.

To date, the Greene County Sheriff's Department has not issued a public response to the lawsuit.

A Cautionary Tale for Law Enforcement and the Public

Espinosa's ordeal raises broader questions about how law enforcement agencies recognize — or misinterpret — medical emergencies. Advocates warn that symptoms of stroke, epilepsy, or other conditions can resemble signs of intoxication. The key difference is that failure to recognize the true cause can lead to permanent harm or even death.

The lawsuit is ongoing, but its implications are already clear — even when the signs are obvious, the systems designed to protect health and safety can break down with devastating consequences.

References: He Was Pulled Over and Jailed for 7 Hours on Suspicion of DWI. In Reality, He'd Suffered a Stroke: Lawsuit | Greene County Jail Employees, Sheriff Face Federal Lawsuit Alleging Denied Medical Care | 'No Trace of Alcohol': Police Thought Amazon Worker's Stroke Was a DWI, Then Threw Him in Jail for 7 Hours and Caused Him to Go Blind, Lawsuit Says