A wrongful death lawsuit in Payette County didn’t last long. A mistrial was declared on the first day of proceedings in the case involving a sheriff’s deputy.
In October of 2011, Payette County Sheriff’s deputy Scott Sloan struck and killed Barry Johnson while responding to a 911 call. Sloan’s patrol car hit speeds above 100 mph as he drove along a rural road near New Plymouth. The speed limit was 55.
Johnson’s daughter, Jackie Raymond, filed a wrongful death suit against the sheriff’s department claiming the agency manipulated the investigation to protect the deputy.
The Statesman reports jury selection in the wrongful death suit happened Monday and the trial began Tuesday. By Tuesday afternoon, the trial had ended because a witness introduced testimony that had been ruled inadmissible in the past.
According to Raymond’s attorney, a new trial will take place this summer. Just days before this week’s proceedings, Raymond alleged the Payette County Sheriff might be tampering with jurors, something he denies. The Idaho Attorney General’s Office is looking into the claim.
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