Judge Approves $1 Million Settlement
A $1 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit was approved on Tuesday by Kanawha County Circuit Judge Kenneth Ballard. The lawsuit accused West Virginia state police troopers of using excessive force on Edmond Exline, a Maryland man, who died after being tackled, handcuffed, and tased along Interstate 81 near Martinsburg last year.
Incident Details
Edmond Exline, 45, of Hagerstown, Maryland, was unarmed when the incident occurred on February 12, 2023. According to the lawsuit, three state troopers tackled and handcuffed Exline and used a Taser to immobilize him. Exline later died at a hospital. The lawsuit also noted that troopers administered Narcan multiple times, despite no evidence that Exline had overdosed on narcotics.
State Police and Governor’s Statements
State police Capt. Eric Burnett in Charles Town stated that the Taser was used on Exline after he ran into traffic and ignored commands from a trooper. During a March 2023 briefing, Governor Jim Justice expressed concern after watching police video footage of the incident, describing it as “very, very concerning.” However, state police previously denied a request by The Associated Press to review the video, and the cause of Exline’s death following an autopsy was not released.
Broader Investigation and Allegations
Governor Justice announced that Exline’s death would be included in a broader investigation of the state police. This investigation follows several alarming allegations, including that a now-deceased employee hid a video camera in the women’s locker room at a state police facility in Kanawha County. The governor also appointed a new state police superintendent after the former one resigned.
Federal Investigation and Other Lawsuits
The locker room allegations have led to numerous lawsuits and are now part of a federal investigation into the state police. The Exline case settlement marks a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny and legal challenges facing the West Virginia State Police.
