Published: Thursday, July 2, 2009
Spokane County sued in 2007 arrest death
SPOKANE -- Spokane County is the target of a federal civil rights lawsuit in the case of an epileptic man who died in May 2007 following a struggle with deputies.
The suit was filed this week by Trent Yohe's former wife, Serrina Francis, who had a child with Yohe and was appointed to administer his estate.
The lawsuit alleges that Deputies Scott Bonney, Mike Wall and John Cook used unreasonable force during a May 1, 2007, struggle. Yohe was a 37-year-old methamphetamine addict they were trying to arrest on a warrant.
The Spokesman-Review says he stopped breathing after he received several Taser shocks and while he was hogtied. He was pronounced brain dead at Sacred Heart Medical Center and died more than a week later.
Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich has said his deputies acted within department policies.
The case was reviewed by Spokane County Prosecutor Steven Tucker, who found the death an excusable homicide.
Information from: The Spokesman-Review, www.spokesman.com
The suit was filed this week by Trent Yohe's former wife, Serrina Francis, who had a child with Yohe and was appointed to administer his estate.
The lawsuit alleges that Deputies Scott Bonney, Mike Wall and John Cook used unreasonable force during a May 1, 2007, struggle. Yohe was a 37-year-old methamphetamine addict they were trying to arrest on a warrant.
The Spokesman-Review says he stopped breathing after he received several Taser shocks and while he was hogtied. He was pronounced brain dead at Sacred Heart Medical Center and died more than a week later.
Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich has said his deputies acted within department policies.
The case was reviewed by Spokane County Prosecutor Steven Tucker, who found the death an excusable homicide.
Information from: The Spokesman-Review, www.spokesman.com
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