Date: Wed Oct 13 19:37:04 1999 From: LVNORML420@aol.com Subject: School Janitor Shot And Killed By Police Officers.
Shooting Death of Retired School Janitor: Civil Rights Lawsuit Filed Today by John Marshall of Columbus, OH and Harry Deitzler of Charleston, W.Va. Against Washington County, Ohio Sheriff's Deputies
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Captain Chris Forshey of the Washington County, Ohio Sheriff's Department and other Washington Couty deputies have been named as defendants in a civil lawsuit filed on behalf of the heirs of Delbert Dean Bonar, a retired school janitor shot and killed by officers who claim they were executing a search warrant.
According to the complaint filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County, Ohio, the deputies relied on information from the sister of one of the officers (who was later at the scene) to acquire a nighttime search warrant to look for marijuana at the residence of the victim's son,Albert Bonar. (The search warrant named only Albert Bonar as a suspect.)
The lawsuit alleges that Mr. Bonar, his son Albert and Carolyn Bonar were at home watching television when they noticed flashing lights outside. Albert Bonar went to the door and turned on the outside lights; as he opened the door, the officers pushed their way into the residence, forced Albert to the floor, and immediately began firing their weapons in the direction of the victim, Delbert Bonar. Delbert Bonar was sitting i a chair in the corner of the living room. Mr. Bonar was shot eight times and died at the scene.
According to the complaint, Carolyn Bonar attempted to help Mr. Bonar after he was shot. One of the officers told her to sit down and "shut (her) mouth" or she "could wind up like he is."
The lawsuit claims that the officers used excessive force and caused the wrongful death of Mr. Bonar in violation of the United States Constitution and federal civil rights laws. The lawsuit further alleges deliberate indifference on the part of Washington County and the Washington County Sheriff's Department with regard to training and supervising of its officers.
The lawsuit was filed by Delbert Bonar's sister, Shirley Wingrove, administrator of the family's estate. Delbert Bonar is survived by his three sons, Albert, Dean and William, and his sister, Shirley and brother, Albert. The family is represented by attorneys Harry Deitzler of Charleston, West Virginia, and John Marshall of Columbus, Ohio.
SOURCE Law Offices of John S. Marshall
CO: Law Offices of John S. Marshall; Harry Deitzler; Court of Common Pleas of Washington County, Ohio
ST: Ohio, West Virginia
IN:
SU: LAW
10/13/1999 11:11 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com