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TIGARD, Ore. (AP) -- Family members of an Oregon man who has been publicly named as a suspect in the disappearance of a Brigham Young University student said they plan to file a civil rights lawsuit against police.
KGW Television in Portland reported the tort claim notice filed by the family of Sung Koo Kim alleges that an Oregon State Police SWAT team and other law enforcement used excessive force when they searched the Kims' Tigard home last May.
Agencies named as defendants include Oregon State Police, the Benton County Sheriff's Office, the Tigard police department and the Newberg police department.
Representatives for each of the agencies declined comment about the family's claim, citing the ongoing investigation of Kim and because of pending litigation.
The Tigard home was searched as part of an investigation into Kim's alleged theft of thousands of pairs of women's underwear from local college campuses. Police said they also found an arsenal of weapons inside the house.
Kim, 30, faces charges of theft and burglary in Benton County, as well as similar charges in Multnomah, Yamhill and Washington counties, plus charges of possessing child pornography and encouraging child sex abuse.
He has been named as a suspect in the disappearance of Brooke Wilberger, a 19-year-old BYU student who is originally from the Eugene area. She disappeared on May 24 from her sister's Corvallis apartment complex.
Kim's bail has been set at $15 million. He has pleaded innocent to the charges.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
