Federal Lawsuit Filed Following Inmate’s Death in Kansas Jail
The family of Charles Adair, a Kansas jail inmate who died under controversial circumstances, has filed a federal lawsuit seeking justice. This legal action follows findings that a deputy, Richard Fatherley, applied a knee to Adair’s back for over a minute while he was handcuffed.
The lawsuit targets the Wyandotte County sheriff, the local unified government, and Fatherley, who is already facing charges of second-degree murder in connection with Adair’s death. Attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels are advocating for the family, demanding the public release of video evidence. “The public has a right to transparency when someone dies in custody in this manner,” Crump stated in a recent news release.
Despite requests, the sheriff’s office has not released the footage, although Crump and Daniels have viewed it. Adair, who had been arrested on misdemeanor warrants for traffic violations, was initially taken to the hospital due to a severe leg infection, according to a Kansas Bureau of Investigation affidavit. The infection required amputation and was linked to a bone disease often seen in diabetic patients. Additionally, Adair’s medical assessment indicated schizophrenia.
The lawsuit claims that Adair was incoherent, which deputies attributed to his health issues affecting his cognitive state. An altercation arose after his leg was rewrapped, leading to Adair throwing himself from a wheelchair during a transfer back to his cell. In the cell, he was placed face down, restrained, and repeatedly cried for help.
According to the legal documents, Adair was compliant with orders when Fatherley exerted his weight on Adair’s back, a move that led to fatal consequences. The lawsuit argues that other officers present did not intervene or adjust their approach despite Adair’s apparent mental health struggles.
Further complications in the case arose when it was discovered that Fatherley, while on administrative leave and out on bond, retained access to his official email account, allowing communication with potential witnesses. This access was terminated only after the lawsuit’s filing, stated Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Capt. Michael Kroening, who refrained from further comment due to pending litigation.
A status conference regarding Fatherley’s criminal charges is scheduled for next month. His lawyer, James Spies, contends that the incident was “a tragic accident” unrelated to Fatherley’s actions. Attempts to reach Spies for comment were not immediately successful.
