IT STARTED WITH MY BEST FRIEND BEING ROBBED

Mark Orapello called the Hillsborough County Sheriff office when he noticed his roommate had directed the movers (hired by his roommate) to take his things as well. He informed the movers they were robbing him, and when they continued to pack up and take his things, he called the police. One person from the sheriff office came and told him that they would not help him because it was a civil matter. They said they would arrest him if he tried to physically stop the movers, which he had not done. Mark informed the police to please leave, since they would do nothing, and they left without incident.

HOW BEING ROBBED TURNED INTO DOUBLE BRAIN SURGERY

Mark is a kind and gentle individual who does not support or feel brave enough for Florida's stand-your-ground. However, after the police came, the movers did stop trying to take his things and asked if they could leave. As Mark was opening the door for the movers, the police arrived again, did not properly announce themselves, and pushed through the already partially opened door (which Mark was opening for the movers). One policeman slammed Mark into the table, causing multiple brain bleeds that ended up needing double brain surgery to correct.

THE VICTIM WAS ARRESTED

The police told him he would be arrested for a misdemeanor. Then, while Mark was suffering multiple brain bleeds and trying desperately to convince them he needed medical attention, the deputies spent TWO HOURS adding more charges, culminating in him being charged with three counts of "holding the movers under false imprisonment." Now he is in the county jail. He has not been convicted of anything. He went before the judge for his bail hearing, but he was not given a lawyer, not even a public defender. This goes against due process. Without a lawyer to help with setting the bond, my autistic best friend was given a bail of $35,000. He needs $3500 to get out on bail. Meanwhile, he is not being given the pain medication nor the anti-seizure medication that he was told was necessary to help prevent a potentially deadly condition after the double brain surgery he had to undergo due to being slammed into the table by the deputy. He is in pained agony due to not having enough Tylenol to help with the pain. He is in a wheelchair now, as well.

Mark has audio recording of the incident, but his phone with the recording is currently in the custody of the very sheriff office that brutalized him. I am trying to get hold of his landlady because she has cameras in the area, which may help to act as evidence. All of these things should be taken care of by his public defender, but he has not yet been given access to any lawyer.

ABOUT MARK

Mark is autistic, physically disabled (uses a cane), and grew up in an abusive household. Even so, he came out of it loving, kind, but scared of the world. He's done his best to "greet the world with open arms," as is one of his favorite songs from a musical (EPIC) he has fallen in love with. He loves dogs, books, and music. He is so gentle and kind-hearted that, in the past, when he was physically assaulted at a bus stop on his way to work, he did not even press charges. He just wanted to continue on with his life.

He is hard-working and, previous to this, was paying his own rent and bills. He formerly worked as a caretaker for autistic children, helping them to learn how to navigate a world not set up for them, and giving them more stability than he had growing up. He lives life very simply. His love of books and stories typically sustains him where others might want more physical possessions. He has always been a strong supporter of the marginalized, despite being himself marginalized, and now he needs your help.

ABOUT ME AND WHAT MARK MEANS TO ME

I am a counseling student who is nearly done with my internship, following a career change from being a biologist. Like Mark, I love books and stories, which is what drew us together as friends. He has been my best friend for over a decade, and I have seen the many struggles life has thrown his way. Always before, he has come out of them through strong perseverance and a never-ending positivity for life. Mark means the world to me, and he has always been there for me during my rough periods of life. He is like the brother I never had.

WHERE YOU CAN HELP

Of utmost priority is the $3500 required to get Mark out on bail and a safe place so that he can get access to his necessary medications and not suffer further neglect. This will also help me to get him access to proper advocacy, which he should have had from the beginning, owing to his autism and special needs. At current, because he is in jail, I cannot do much to help him. Beyond that initial goal, he will need a safe place to stay and enough to pay for some cheap food. While I can help with some of this, any additional donations above the goal would go toward helping him stay safe and taking care of his basic needs while he heals from his brain surgeries and gets through the court process.

HOW FUNDS WILL BE USED

Thank you so very much for anything you can do to help.

MAJOR UPDATE

With help from everyone who donated, I was able to get him an actual lawyer, since his public defender was not making any moves to preserve video evidence that showed his innocence (which was going to be deleted automatically from his apartment's camera system unless a lawyer stepped in to subpoena it as evidence). With a proper lawyer, the charges were dropped! Mark is safely on a train headed to me. He lost his apartment due to being unable to pay rent while in jail for TWENTY-ONE DAYS on bogus charges. He may yet lose all of his possessions, because during the eviction process, his possessions were locked away from him. Funds are still needed to finish paying the lawyer and, if anything is left over, to help with his medical expenses. Medical expenses he should have never had in the first place, but for the fact that he was literally bashed headfirst into a table to the point of brain damage.