KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A former Kalamazoo County sheriff’s deputy who pleaded guilty to an assault of an inmate reportedly has now had a lawsuit filed against him.
WWMT-TV reports that Clair Sootsman pleaded guilty to assault and battery in September 2020 and was sentenced to pay $525 in court fines after the February 14 incident involving Joseph Johnson III in the Kalamazoo County Jail.
The lawsuit was filed suit last week in U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan. The suit also names two other Kalamazoo County Sheriff deputies, Taliah Harris and Chantel Einhardt.
The lawsuit claims that Sootsman assaulted Johnson as he was being transferred to general population by the two other deputies at the Kalamazoo County Jail. The deputies reportedly told Johnson he was walking too fast, and he was stopped by Sootsman, who was walking in the same direction with two other inmates. After yelling at Johnson, the lawsuit says Sootsman slammed him into a wall before pulling him to the ground and putting a choke hold on him while applying handcuffs.
Johnson is seeking $75,000, plus costs, interest, and attorney fees, for injuries, mental anguish, and emotional damage.
