Family Files Suit In Washington County Police Shooting

GENERAL NEWS 

By Rob Manning

Portland, OR  April 3, 2008 1:37 p.m.

The family of a man who was killed by police in Washington County a year and a half ago filed a lawsuit in federal court Thursday, against the law enforcement agencies involved in the shooting. Rob Manning reports.

Jordan Case was on psychedelic mushrooms when he entered a neighbor’s apartment in a daze.

Over the next few hours, police hit Case with tasers and beanbag bullets. During the melee, Case attempted to remove a rifle from a police car. Police subdued him, and ultimately shot him four times.

Now, the family is suing Washington County, the cities of Tualatin and Sherwood, and the three police officers, for civil rights’ violations and wrongful death.

Attorney Stephen Sherlag says police did not need to kill Case.

Stephen Sherlag: “The responding officers were either improperly trained, or acted improperly, or both.”

The suit asks for financial damages, though family members say they hope to change police policy, as well.

The Washington County District Attorney investigated and decided not to charge the officers involved a month after the October 2006 shooting.

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