BEDFORD – A Bedford man filed a civil lawsuit against several Bedford Police officers and the City of Bedford after an incident on January 8, 2021.
The lawsuit was filed in Lawrence County Circuit Court on January 6, 2023.
The seventeen-page lawsuit was filed by Bloomington law firm Mallor Grodner on behalf of Tyler Barton who claims he suffered damages during an attack while in his home at 510 H Street.
The complaint names Morgan Lee, Chase Hamilton, Clay Blackburn, Chief Terry Moore, Mayor Sam Craig, the Bedford Police Department, the Bedford City Council, and the City of Bedford.
Barton claims his first and fourth civil rights were violated, he was battered, he suffered and officers inflicted emotional distress. He also claims that officers neglected their duties, trespassed on his property and no one intervened to stop the mistreatment.
According to court records, on January 8, 2021, Barton accidentally smashed his fingers in a door between the house and the garage. Due to pain from the injury, Barton yelled and shouted profanities. Someone heard his yells and called the police. Officers from the Bedford Police Department responded.
Responding were officers Chase Hamilton and Clay Blackburn along with Morgan Lee, all of who entered the home. Lee asked Barton if he needed an ambulance. The officers were told by Barton to leave.
Officers Morgan Lee and Chase Hamilton did not leave the home as requested. Lee persisted in asking whether Barton needed an ambulance.
Barton again asked the officers to leave his home. But the two officers remained in Barton’s home.
Lee then allegedly turned off his body camera and attacked Barton. Barton claims Lee berated and threatened him. The two entered a shouting match with both using profanities.
Lee then allegedly shoved Barton and threw him violently to the floor, causing an injury to the back of Barton’s head.
Barton claims while he was still on the floor, Lee applied his body weight to Barton’s neck and throat with his forearm or hand, impeding Barton’s breathing and causing pain. Barton claims he was in mortal fear.
Lee then allegedly strangled Barton, while Barton says Officer Hamilton restrained Barton’s legs.
The lawsuit claims Hamilton and Blackburn could have intervened and stopped the attack. Barton claims after the attack Lee then turned his body camera back on.
Barton complained about the incident and Bedford Police Chief Terry Moore requested Indiana State Police investigate the incident. A detective from the Jasper post conducted the investigation and turned over his findings to a special prosecutor for review. Lee was arrested on a charge of battery, strangulation, and official misconduct.
Lee resigned from the department. He pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of official misconduct and battery. The charge of strangulation was dropped in a negotiated plea deal. Lee was sentenced to 365 days in jail. He was given credit for one day served and 363 days were suspended. He was ordered to serve one year on supervised probation and serve 50 hours of community service.
