Trial date set in shooting case
A federal judge set an Aug. 6 trial date for jurors to hear evidence brought against a former Redstone Township police officer accused of using excessive force when he shot and killed Kermith Sonnier Jr. Sonnier’s father, Kermith Sr., sued four municipal police officers in 2005, claiming that they were civilly liable for his son’s May 5, 2004, death in the village of Century. Only one of the officers remains a defendant in the case.
Sonnier Jr., according to prior testimony and filings related to the case, fled from police in his truck, when former Brownsville police officer Autumn Fike tried to talk to him. The chase brought forth help from other officers, including former Redstone police officers Dennis Field and Josh Mrosko and former Centerville officer Mark Costello.
Documents indicate that Sonnier Jr. drove back to Century and headed down a dead-end all-terrain vehicle trail in his full-size truck with police on foot behind him. As Sonnier headed toward officers, Fike was thrown either by the truck or a branch, firing her gun. Field also fired his weapon, and investigators believe his shot hit and ultimately killed Sonnier Jr.
While all four officers were named as defendants, U.S. District Judge Terrence F. McVerry recently dismissed Fike, Mrosko and Costello from the suit, leaving only Field.
McVerry found that a jury was entitled to hear about Field’s conduct and decide if he used excessive force, as was alleged in the lawsuit. The judge noted that the bullet entered Sonnier Jr.’s back, and he said that a jury could reasonably conclude that the truck had passed Field and no longer posed a danger.
Several months after the shooting, a coroner’s jury cleared all four officers of any criminal wrongdoing, ruling that the actions taken that day by Field and the others were justified.
Additionally, Fayette County prosecutors declined to file charges against any of the officers in accordance with the jury’s findings.