Exclusive: Internal documents detail VA police altercation with veteran who later died

WASHINGTON – A 66-year-old veteran was found severely injured and nearly unconscious following a traffic stop by a Veterans Affairs police officer in May, and he died two days later, according to an internal report obtained by USA TODAY.

The VA has repeatedly refused, even seven months later, to disclose any details about what happened, citing an ongoing investigation.

But the internal report provides an account of a tragic altercation between the veteran and officer outside the VA medical center in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Revelations from the report come just a day after the VA’s inspector general released a scathing report finding the agency failed to adequately manage its police force, costing taxpayers millions of dollars and leaving gaps in protecting patients and staff.

In Kansas City, on the night of May 10, a VA police officer, who is not named in the report, stopped a motorist driving the wrong way on a driveway outside the VA medical center. The driver was a VA patient.

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“After being pulled over, the patient began making inappropriate gestures and physically threatening motions with his arm,” the report says.

The officer also noticed a “large ‘bulge’” by the driver’s abdomen “(later found to be due to recent hernia surgery).” He decided to detain him. The man “struggled.” So the officer “brought the patient to the ground.” He then completed the “handcuffing process.”

During the incident, the patient’s son approached “from behind.” The officer directed him to stay back, and he called for backup.

But something was awry.

“While being brought to the ground, the patient seemed to suffer some injuries,” the report says. So he was taken inside the hospital to be checked out.

“Upon arrival to the Emergency Department the patient was non-verbal, moaning with a decreased level of consciousness,” the report says.

Medical workers found he had a gash in his scalp and “multiple” cuts and bruises on his face. A CT scan of his head showed areas of bleeding around his brain, one on the left frontal lobe and another on the right. 

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They transferred him a half hour away to the University of Kansas Medical Center for further evaluation. “Family was aware of the treatment plan,” the report says.

But he continued to deteriorate. He became less responsive, had to be intubated and lost some movement in his arm. Another CT revealed several areas of bleeding in his brain, and a scan of his neck showed a blockage in an artery that could have caused a stroke.

He died soon after. The report does not say if the injuries were suffered during the encounter.

Kansas City VA officials reported within days of the death that they were “awaiting the results of the autopsy for determination of the cause.” They had already received media inquiries about what happened. “No response has been provided at this time,” the report says.

Kansas City Star reporter Andy Marso confirmed the veteran who died was Dale Farhner of Kingston, Missouri. But the VA refused to say what happened, so the reporter filed a records request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Still, the VA denied the request, telling the Star in July that releasing records related to the death could “impair the deliberative process” and “would likely negatively impact a frank discussion on matters of policy between subordinates and supervisors.”

The county medical examiner also refused to release autopsy results to the Star, citing the open investigation.

The Star and USA TODAY were unable to reach Farhner’s family members.

In response to inquiries from USA TODAY, national VA spokesman Curt Cashour declined to say if the officer is still working at VA, whether his actions were found to be improper or what role they may have played in Farhner's death.

"This incident is under investigation by the Jackson County Medical Examiner, and we refer you to that office for comment," he said. 

Farhner’s death and the VA’s actions have drawn the attention of Missouri’s two senators – Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill and Republican Sen. Roy Blunt. Last week, they wrote to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie and demanded answers.

“We certainly appreciate the requirements of an investigation, but hope that after over six months some initial information can be forthcoming,” the letter reads, according to the Star. “The health and well-being of our veterans have been among our highest shared priorities in Congress. Please release any information that can be made public regarding Mr. Farhner, and if not, please explain the reasons why.”

Cashour said the "VA appreciates the senators’ concerns and will respond to them directly."

More:VA mismanaged police force, costing millions of dollars and leaving security gaps, investigators say