KY man with dementia sues several Kentucky police officers, claiming excessive force
A Kentucky man with dementia is suing several members of the Danville Police Department after he claims his civil rights were violated during an incident last October.
John Hardwick, 66, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday in the Eastern District of Kentucky. The lawsuit claims he was unlawfully assaulted and arrested by Danville police officers Oct. 15, 2024, at a Walmart in Danville.
The officers involved in the arrest were Tony Godbey, Jr., Brandon Conley, and Sgt. Benjamin Ray. They were named in the lawsuit along with Chief Anthony Gray, Assistant Chief Glenn Doan and the Danville Police Department.
Danville police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
During the incident, Hardwick was accused of shoplifting and arrested. The lawsuit says video evidence shows he did not attempt to leave the store with unpaid items.
The officers used unnecessary force during the arrest, according to the lawsuit. The actions of the officers were described as willful, wanton and malicious
The incident resulted in physical and emotional harm to Hardwick, according to the lawsuit.
The officers were also accused of falsifying police reports to gain a criminal conviction, the lawsuit says. Hardwick was charged in state court with public alcohol intoxication, third-degree criminal trespassing, shoplifting, resisting arrest, failure to surrender revoked operator’s license and having more than one operator’s license, but the charges were dismissed with prejudice in January.
Hardwick is pursuing compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees and other relief approved by the court, according to the lawsuit.
Dementia isn’t one specific disease but instead a symptom of several diseases, according to the Mayo Clinic. The most common sign of dementia is memory loss, but a patient’s thinking and social abilities can also be affected.
