Issue: Oct 13, 1999
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 13
/PR Newswire/ -- Captain Chris Forshey of the Washington County, Ohio
Sheriff's Department and other Washington County 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 in 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.
COPYRIGHT 1999 PR
Newswire Association, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale
Group
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