Deputy Beaten After Vehicle Crashes In His Yard Sues Officers

  • Friday, February 27, 2015

A man who was mistakenly beaten by officers who had been pursuing a pickup truck that crashed into his home has sued Hamilton County and the officers for $700,000.

Aaron Lucas Shelton and his wife, Heather Nicole Shelton, filed the suit in Circuit Court. Aaron Shelton is himself a deputy sheriff.

It names Curtis Brian Killingsworth and unknown officers who allegedly took part in the beating last Nov. 11 at the Shelton residence on Ely Road.

The complaint says the couple was at home when they heard a loud noise of something being broken outside their home. Aaron Shelton stepped outside and found that a dark gray vehicle had crashed in their yard.

He said when he saw a man run into his carport he followed him, then was confronted by him and other officers. He said they pointed guns at him and told him to get on the ground. 

The suit, filed by attorney Robin Flores, says while Aaron Shelton was on the floor of the carport the officers got on top of him and battered him with their hands. It says one forced his face into the concrete.

Killingsworth then struck him multiple times with his baton, it was stated.

It says Aaron Shelton at no time offered any resistance, and that his wife repeatedly told the officers that he himself was a deputy.

The suit says the alleged beating stopped when a neighbor arrived and also told the officers they were beating "the wrong man."

Meanwhile, other officers were capturing the driver of the wrecked vehicle, it was stated.

The suit says afterward he was told by the officers that "we're all brothers, man."

The suit asks $200,000 compensatory damages and $500,000 punitive damages.

 

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