HUNTINGTON – A Wayne County Sheriff's Department officer is alleged to have used excessive force during a drug raid against a Cabell County resident.
Therman Maynard filed a complaint Jan. 31 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia against the Wayne County Commission and Wade Wellman alleging excessive force, failure to timely provide medical care and other counts.
According to the complaint, on Feb. 18, 2017, the plaintiff's home was raided by the Wayne County Sheriff's Department Drug Enforcement Unit. The plaintiff alleges Wellman, a police officer employed by the sheriff's department, kneed him during the incident and broke his ribs. The suit states he did not receive medical treatment until after he was transported to the Western Regional Jail and spent eight days in the hospital because of his injuries.
The plaintiff holds the Wayne County Commission and Wellman responsible because defendant Wellman allegedly intentionally and recklessly disregarded his constitutional rights and used an unreasonable amount of force.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees and costs and such other just and fair relief. He is represented by Richard W. Weston and Connor Robertson of Weston | Robertson in Huntington.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia case number 3:18-cv-00239