The Marshall County sheriff and a one of his deputies are being sued over alleged civil rights violations.
Records from Marshall Superior Court indicate Jason C. Joseph was arrested in 2014 and charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver.
Joseph was sentenced in September of 2015 to 3.5 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections for possession of methamphetamine. The remaining charges were dismissed.
He has since sued Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputy Jonathan Bryant and Marshall County Sheriff Matt Hassel in U.S. District Court for alleged civil rights violations.
The federal court was unable to provide comprehensive details of the allegations, but court officials say Joseph claims he was deprived of his civil rights.
Marshall County Attorney Jim Clevenger elaborated on the matter during Monday’s commissioners meeting, saying Mr. Joseph alleges excessive force was used against him, and that the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department failed to treat him medically following his booking at the jail. The US civil rights movements is something you can read about to understand the system better.
The federal lawsuit was filed on Sept. 16th. Attorney Elizabeth “Betty” Knight is representing the employees of Marshall County.
Clevenger told the commissioners that Knight has already conducted interviews with those named in the suit in preparation for their court appearance.
U.S. District Court officials say the defendants have been served, but no formal response has been filed in the case. They have until Nov. 14, 2016 to respond to the allegations.
A hearing has not yet been scheduled.
