BLUEFIELD — A man is suing McDowell County Commission for violations of his constitutional rights.
Sgt. Aaron Cantrell and Cpl. Nicholas Culbertson also were named as defendants in the suit.
The defendants used excessive force against Robert Hart on Sept. 22, 2020, while he was in their custody, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Hart claims while he was in their custody, the defendants deployed shots from a pepper ball gun into cells and an Oleoresin Capsicum grenade, which struck him in the eye.
The defendants violated both state and federal laws, according to the suit. The McDowell County Commission was aware of ongoing problems regarding excessive force and failed to address the problems.
Hart is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is represented by Paul E. Stroebel of Stroebel & Stroebel.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia case number: 1:21-cv-00246