Police Officer Who Killed Autistic Black Man During Traffic Stop To Be Kept On Force Despite $3.5M Payout To Victim’s Family

Clark County, Washington, reached a $3.5 million settlement this week with the family of Jenoah Donald, a Black autistic man who was fatally shot by a deputy during a 2021 traffic stop. The family’s lawsuit, filed in 2022, alleged wrongful death, assault and battery, negligence, and deprivation of civil rights, arguing that the stop itself was unlawful and that deputies used excessive force.

Donald, 30, was pulled over by Deputy Sean Boyle for a faulty taillight in February 2021, near an area known for “suspicious activity,” according to the Tacoma News Tribune. During the stop, two other deputies arrived, one claiming to have seen a “weapon” in Donald’s car, which turned out to be a screwdriver. According to the complaint, Boyle attempted to pull Donald from his car when he did not immediately respond, punching him in the nose during the struggle. As the car’s gear shifted, it lurched forward, prompting Boyle to fire two shots, one striking Donald in the head. Donald died a week later, leaving behind three children.

A subsequent review by the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office in July 2021 concluded that Boyle’s actions were lawful, arguing that the moving vehicle could be considered a “weapon” under state law. However, the family cited a 1999 Washington Supreme Court case, which found it unconstitutional to use a traffic stop to investigate unrelated criminal activity. The suit also highlighted the county’s alleged failure to adequately train officers on non-lethal de-escalation techniques.

The settlement came just weeks before a civil rights trial was set to begin in Seattle. Despite the payout, the county denied liability for the incident. “We never want to see an incident that results in the loss of another person’s life,” Clark County Sheriff John Horch said, maintaining that deputies acted according to training and state law.

However, Donald’s mother, Sue Zawacky, expressed ongoing frustration. “I still would rather have him here than any amount of money,” she told KGW. “Do I feel that there’s accountability? No. I really don’t.”

Link: Atlanta Black Star