Inmate from Clark County, Washington Accuses Authority of Negligence and Unjustified Force in Court Filing
In a shocking turn of events, a lawsuit has been filed against Southwest Washington County by O'Neal Payne, who claims he was subjected to excessive force and inhumane treatment while in their custody. The incident, which took place on August 13, 2021, during a routine sweep of Payne's cell, has been the subject of an internal investigation by the Clark County Sheriff's Office.
According to the lawsuit, Payne was left with lacerations to his wrists and hands, rug burn, deep bruising on his knee, permanent scarring on his wrists, and mental and emotional distress. The lawsuit further alleges that corrections employees of Southwest Washington County are undertrained, negligent, and use excessive force.
Alicia LeDuc Montgomery, another attorney representing Payne, described the incident as a "vile abuse of power." Jordan Taylor, another attorney for Payne, stated that the actions of the jail deputies were not only excessive but also indicative of a broader failure to adequately train personnel, and constituted negligence on the part of Clark County leadership.
Footage from outside of the cell, reportedly captured by a surveillance camera, shows deputies using a tether to pull Payne's arms through a food port before dragging him across the floor. However, no new surveillance footage from the incident was mentioned in this paragraph.
It is important to note that all other deputies involved in the incident were cleared of wrongdoing. The lawsuit does not provide the name of the employee who used excessive force.
Oregon Public Broadcasting reported the incident, and The Sacramento Bee reported on Payne's sentencing. The lawsuit claims that Southwest Washington County violated Payne's 14th Amendment rights by subjecting him to excessive force and depriving him of timely and adequate medical care.
Payne attempted to represent himself through proceedings. Despite the ongoing legal battle, Payne was sentenced to three years in prison in January 2022 after being convicted of attempting to solicit teenage girls to perform sex acts.
While a detailed public record or news coverage about excessive force allegations by or against Southwest Washington County corrections employees connected to this lawsuit is not readily available, it is recommended to consult local court records, official county communications, or news outlets in Southwest Washington County for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper training and adherence to policy in corrections facilities to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. The lawsuit seeks to hold accountable those responsible for the inhumane treatment and prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
The lawsuit filed against Southwest Washington County by O'Neal Payne also alleges that the corrections employees in the county are negligent and use excessive force, not just in Payne's case but potentially in other situations as well. The lawsuit further asserts that this negligence and use of excessive force may be indicative of a broader issue in the training of personnel within Southwest Washington County and the leadership of Clark County.