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A $25 million lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Rodney L. Hinton, the Ohio father charged with fatally hitting a deputy with his car after his son was killed in a police shooting, per NBC News.
The lawsuit was filed last week following a bond hearing for Hinton, who is currently being held in custody in connection with the death of Hamilton County Special Deputy Larry Henderson. Hinton pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated murder, one count of murder, and two counts of felonious assault.
According to the lawsuit, Hinton was physically assaulted in police custody and "appeared visibly beaten" during his court hearing last week. Several officers were present for the hearing, "creating an atmosphere of fear, surveillance, and intimidation," the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit further alleges that Hinton was “detained unlawfully, without due process, and without a valid conviction" and accuses the Cincinnati Police Department and the Hamilton County sheriff of conspiracy to deprive rights, intimidation and excessive force, emotional distress, and breach of oath of office.
News of the lawsuit comes after police said Hinton hit Henderson with his vehicle as the deputy was directing traffic during graduation events for the University of Cincinnati. The deputy's killing came just hours after Hinton had viewed police footage of his 18-year-old son, Ryan, being shot and killed by an officer.
Authorities said Ryan was killed after he brandished a gun during a stolen vehicle investigation. A gun was recovered at the scene, but there's no evidence that Ryan ever fired the gun. Investigators said the shooting was justified because the teen allegedly pointed the gun in the officer's direction. Blurry police footage makes it unclear whether the teen was carrying the gun or pointing it at police at the time he was shot.
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge previously said there was a definite connection between the May 2 collision and the May 1 fatal shooting of Hinton’s son.
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