Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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U.S. District Judge James A. Beatty Jr. approved the settlement in Winston-Salem, County Attorney Robert Hedrick confirmed Wednesday.
“We are satisfied that this [case] is behind us,” Hedrick said.
The lawsuit was filed on Nov. 21, 2006. Some of the defendants to be named in a 27-page lawsuit were: Sheriff David Grice; County Manager Robert Hyatt; detention officer Mike Shell and former officers Brandon Huie and Ronald Parker; and the county government.
On Jan. 2006, Claros-Castros had been arrested on a DWI charge in Thomasville. While being held at the Davidson County Jail — the following night — Claros-Castros was reported to have become unruly after not being able to reach a family member on the telephone to bail him out. After being placed in a restraint chair, he was moved to a cell by himself and asked to mop the floor — an order he allegedly refused.
Huie, a former sergeant, then entered Claros-Castros’ cell and got into a physical altercation with him, eventually using a taser and pepper spray in attempts to subdue him. Parker, a former lieutenant, came to assist Huie upon learning of the altercation and became involved. The Thomasville resident died sometime during the struggle, and was officially pronounced dead at Lexington Memorial Hospital after being transported.
Parker and Huie were then removed from their jobs by the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office. Huie pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in June 2006 as part of a plea bargain, where he received a 16 to 20 month sentence. In August of 2006, a jury convicted Parker of involuntary manslaughter, and he was sentenced to 13 to 16 months in prison.
Filing a $100 million lawsuit, Claros-Castro’s family were alleging Davidson County provided inadequate staff, poor training and tolerance of excessive force leading to his death. The county’s insurance provider covered the $1 million settlement.
Staff Writer Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 231, or ignasiak@tvilletimes.com.