Logan men blame Department of Public Safety for attack

CHARLESTON -- Two Logan County men are suing the West Virginia Department of Public Safety/State Police after they claim they were attacked by two police officers.

The police officers, Joseph E. Williams and Patrick A. Jones, were also named as defendants in the suit.

On March 5, 2009, Williams and Jones traveled to the Crooked Creek area in reference to shots fired at a dog, according to a complaint filed March 4 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Upon arrival, Jones allegedly spoke with an individual who advised that he heart a gunshot that came from approximately four or five houses down, so the officers went to the residence of Charles D. Williamson, the complaint states.

Williamson claims upon making contact with him, Williams handcuffed him and proceeded without just cause and without provocation to kick and deliver blows to his back.

Jones held Williamson during the assault and battery, according to the suit.

Clark D. Williamson was then unnecessarily sprayed with pepper spray by Jones in the face and was also played under arrest.

Charles and Clark Williamson claim the West Virginia Department of Public Safety knew or should have known that Williams and Jones were not fit mentally or physically to be law enforcement officers.

The defendants' actions were negligent and caused the plaintiffs physical and emotional pain and suffering; permanent physical injuries; lost future earnings; impairment of earning capacity; and annoyance and inconvenience, according to the suit.

Charles and Clark Williamson are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are being represented by Mark Hobbs.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Charles E. King.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-373