Family Sues After Deputy’s Knee Led to Death
Attorneys for the family of Charles Adair, who died in jail custody after a sheriff’s deputy allegedly knelt on his back for over a minute, have filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit. The lawsuit names the Wyandotte County sheriff, the unified government, and Deputy Richard Fatherley, who faces a murder charge in Adair’s death. The family is demanding the public release of video footage depicting the incident, emphasizing the public’s right to transparency in custody deaths. Adair, arrested on misdemeanor warrants, had serious medical conditions including a leg amputation and schizophrenia, which attorneys argue should have been accounted for by deputies.
John Q. Hosedrinker