The family of Jack Yantis, an Idaho rancher who was shot and killed by Adams County, ID sheriff’s deputies in late 2015 has filed a complaint and a demand for jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho.
The suit claims several instances of unreasonable seizures, false imprisonment, emotional distress, assault and battery, and wrongful death. Plaintiffs in the case are Donna J. Yantis, wife of Jack; his daughters, Sarah A. Yantis and Lauretta D. Yantis; and nephew Rowdy L. Paradis.
Defendants named in the 26-page complaint are Adams County, ID; the Adams County Sheriff’s Office; Ryan Zollman, individually and in his role as the Adams County sheriff; deputies Cody Roland and Brian Wood, each individually and in their roles as Adams County Sherriff’s deputies; and one to 10 John/Jane Does, individually and in their official capacities. The “Does” could be named at a later time when and if their identities are revealed.
As previously covered in WLJ, Yantis was killed Nov. 1, 2015 after one of his bulls was struck and injured on a stretch of Highway 95 near his ranch north of Council, ID. The lawsuit points out that the area of the accident is on open-range land and motor vehicle-livestock collisions are common.
Following what was described as a routine and longstanding practice the Adams County Sherriff’s Office, through its dispatcher, contacted Yantis to notify him that the animal had been injured and needed to be put down. The suit claims that given the regular practice, “It is highly foreseeable that deputies will routinely encounter citizens using loaded firearms.”
The suit also notes, “This type of situation requires that deputies present control the scene, communicate with the animal’s owner before he or she prepares to shoot the animal, and avoid startling or physically interfering with the owner as he or she prepares to fire.”
The plaintiffs claim Yantis arrived on scene and when he raised his rifle, two feet or less from the bull’s head, a deputy stepped behind him, grabbed him, and jerked him around backward. The family claims that he was never ordered by deputies to put down his weapon. The deputies claimed that they did issue an order for Yantis to point his rifle downward.
Deputies drew their weapons and shot Yantis. The suit claims, “Jack’s rifle inadvertently discharged when the deputy manhandled him, or when the deputies started shooting him.” It further states, “Jack never attempted to reload—the casing of the single bullet fired from his rifle remained in the chamber. Jack never regained his balance. The deputies shot with intent to kill Jack, rather than to warn him or injure him.”
It continues, “The deputies shot at least 14 times. Deputy Wood fired at least 10 times. Deputy Roland fired at least four times. Twelve of their bullets hit Jack.”
Yantis died at the scene while his wife and nephew watched. When they tried to render first aid, they were separately told to get to the ground. They complied, and were still placed in handcuffs and detained. The suit claims their detention amounted to an arrest.
During this time, Donna suffered a heart attack resulting in her being airlifted to a Boise, ID hospital where she spent over two weeks recovering.
Claiming insufficient evidence after a police and FBI investigation, state and federal prosecutors announced in July 2016 that no charges would be filed against the deputies. The Idaho Statesman reported in August 2016 that the deputies would not be returning to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.
The case lists nine counts against the deputies, some individually and others as a group, including Adams County, and the Adams County Sheriff’s office.
The family requests the court enter judgement for them and against the defendants for:
• Economic damages in an amount that justly compensates them and is consistent with the evidence at trial;
• Non-economic damages in an amount that justly compensates them and is consistent with the evidence at trial;
• Punitive damages in an amount adequate to punish defendants for their reckless and callous indifference to the Yantis Family’s civil rights and to deter similar misconduct in the future;
• An award of costs and attorney’s fees pursuant to 52 U.S.C. § 1988 and other applicable law; and
• All other relief that the court deems just and equitable.
The complaint can be viewed here: http://tinyurl.com/YantisSuit.
WLJ reached out to the plaintiff’s attorney for additional information including when a trial date may be set but as of press time had not received a response. — Rae Price, WLJ editor
