2008 Woodie Awards
Fatal police shooting results in lawsuit
Almost one year after a Sonoma County Sheriff shot their 16 year-old son, the Chass family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit
Skylar James
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: News
The case surrounding the fatal police shooting of 16- year-old Jeremiah Chass on March 12, 2007 took a turn when parents Yvette Chass and Mark Chass, filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against Sonoma County Sheriffs Department last month.
"This was a teenage boy with no history of trouble who was experiencing an emotional crisis," said Patrick Emery, an attorney representing the family to Michael Coit of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. "His folks sought help from medical providers and instead the sheriff's office responded. The contention was their response once they got there was grossly excessive."
Since the incident there has been controversy over the exact events that took place before Chass sustained his gunshot wounds.
According to Community Service Officer Bill Mikan, who works for Sonoma County Sheriff Department, information pertaining to this case will not obtainable through the Sheriffs Department due to the ongoing investigation. The same remained consistent through interviews with Sonoma County office, Santa Rosa Police Department, the Santa Rosa District Attorney office and the Chass family.
However, after some searching, Captain of Sonoma County Sheriff Department Dave Edmonds' prepared statement was obtained through the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, dated March 15, 2007.
The document states that M. Chass intended for an ambulance to arrive, but the call was routed to Sheriff Deputies John Misita and Jim Ryan because the dispatcher makes a note that it sounded "extremely violent."
Having been informed by the dispatcher of the events taking place, Misita arrived on the scene, and M. Chass informed him that Chass was locked in the family's minivan, holding his younger brother Isaiah Chass hostage with a knife. Misita observed that Chass was chanting, "Kill the child," repeatedly.
Because officer Misita was not armed with a tazer, he used his pepper spray, which had no effect on Chass.
M. Chass attempted to pry I. Chass from the grips of his brother, while Misita used various grips and strikes. M. Chass also struck at Chass with no success.
"This was a teenage boy with no history of trouble who was experiencing an emotional crisis," said Patrick Emery, an attorney representing the family to Michael Coit of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. "His folks sought help from medical providers and instead the sheriff's office responded. The contention was their response once they got there was grossly excessive."
Since the incident there has been controversy over the exact events that took place before Chass sustained his gunshot wounds.
According to Community Service Officer Bill Mikan, who works for Sonoma County Sheriff Department, information pertaining to this case will not obtainable through the Sheriffs Department due to the ongoing investigation. The same remained consistent through interviews with Sonoma County office, Santa Rosa Police Department, the Santa Rosa District Attorney office and the Chass family.
However, after some searching, Captain of Sonoma County Sheriff Department Dave Edmonds' prepared statement was obtained through the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, dated March 15, 2007.
The document states that M. Chass intended for an ambulance to arrive, but the call was routed to Sheriff Deputies John Misita and Jim Ryan because the dispatcher makes a note that it sounded "extremely violent."
Having been informed by the dispatcher of the events taking place, Misita arrived on the scene, and M. Chass informed him that Chass was locked in the family's minivan, holding his younger brother Isaiah Chass hostage with a knife. Misita observed that Chass was chanting, "Kill the child," repeatedly.
Because officer Misita was not armed with a tazer, he used his pepper spray, which had no effect on Chass.
M. Chass attempted to pry I. Chass from the grips of his brother, while Misita used various grips and strikes. M. Chass also struck at Chass with no success.