Family files suit against City of Rawlins
RAWLINS — The city of Rawlins faces a civil rights suit nearly two years after a 2015 incident during which two police officers shot and killed a man.
The fatal shooting occurred in the parking lot of a Kum and Go gas station, 115 N. Higley Blvd on Dec. 30, 2015.
The defendants, Sergeant Jared Frakes and Officer Joe Balestrieri of the Rawlins Police Department had originally responded to a call that suspect John Veach, of Fort Collins, Colorado, was allegedly selling marijuana.
The complaint, filed Nov. 16, 2017, by plaintiff attorney Qusair Mohamedbhai, states that Frakes and Balestrieri shot and killed Veach, who was unarmed, in the parking lot after he attempted to drive away from the officers.
“Mr. Veach started his truck and unfortunately tried to drive away,” Mohamedbhai said Friday. “But the police were on the sides of the truck and shot him through the side window and killed him execution style. That is absolutely inappropriate and unlawful for the law enforcement to do.”
Mohamedbhai said the suit was filed as result of the officers allegedly using deadly force against Veach and allegedly violating the 4th and 14th amendments of the United States Constitution.
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