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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The family of a rancher authorities say was shot and killed by two Adams County Sheriff's deputies has filed a legal notice of their intent to sue the county.
The Idaho Statesman reports (http://bit.ly/29WQVFU) in a story on Tuesday that the family of Jack Yantis filed a tort claim earlier this year as a precursor to a wrongful death lawsuit seeking $500,000.
Authorities say the deputies shot and killed the 62-year-old Yantis on Nov. 1 after one of his bulls was hit by a car and charged emergency crews on a highway just north of the tiny town of Council in west-central Idaho.
Authorities said the deputies planned to shoot the injured bull when the rancher arrived with a rifle. Investigators say all of them fired their weapons. The shooting remains under investigation by the Idaho Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Named in the tort claim are Adams County, Deputies Cody Roland and Brian Wood, and Sheriff Ryan Zollman.
The tort claim says that Jack Yantis received a call from an Adams County Sheriff's Office dispatcher asking him to help with one of his bulls that had been struck by a vehicle. His wife Donna Yantis, nephew Rowdy Paradis and a family friend all went to the highway.
The tort claim says Jack Yantis stood on the highway behind the bull with his rifle aimed at the back of the animal's head when Roland grabbed Yantis and pulled him backward.
"(Deputy Roland and Deputy Brian Wood) immediately unleashed a hail of bullets," the tort claims says. "They shot to kill. It is unknown how many times they fired."
The claim contends that Jack Yantis posed no threat to anyone and was committing no crime. The claim also says that deputies didn't ask Yantis to put down his rifle or give him any other requests, commands or warnings.
The claim states that deputies also arrested Donna Yantis and Rowdy Paradis, and that Donna Yantis had a heart attack and spent more than two weeks in a hospital.
Idaho Counties Risk Management Program is handling the tort claim. Director Rick Ferguson said the agency doesn't comment on pending litigation.
The Idaho State Police finished its investigation of the shooting in March and turned over findings to Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden.
Todd Dvorak, Wasden's spokesman, said Tuesday the office is reviewing the findings and had no comment.
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Information from: Idaho Statesman, http://www.idahostatesman.com
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