Spokane Co., Wash., sued in 2007 arrest death

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.

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Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com

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