Rodney Hinton Jr., the man charged with the fatal retaliation attack on a retired Hamilton County deputy, has filed a hefty $25 million lawsuit alleging his civil rights were violated. The suit, targeting the Cincinnati Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey, and other entities, was initially filed on May 9 and has since been amended according to court records.
Hinton claims his arrest and subsequent appearances displayed a disregard for his constitutional rights. Local12 reports that Hinton was detained after allegedly driving into Deputy Larry Henderson and a utility pole near a graduation event at the University of Cincinnati. The incident was reportedly an act of vengeance after a police body cam video was released showing the fatal shooting of Hinton's son, Ryan Hinton, by law enforcement.
The lawsuit demands $20 million in punitive damages and $5 million in compensatory damages. The roster of defendants includes the state of Ohio, Hamilton County Jail, and ten unnamed officers. As noted by FOX19, none of the defendants has offered public comment on the allegations to date.
Adding to the legal battle, the lawsuit filed by Hinton's "next friend" Antionette Holloway, alleges that Hinton Jr. was held "without conviction or meaningful bond hearing." Furthermore, there were visible signs of physical abuse, as WLWT notes, Hinton "appeared visibly beaten during arraignment, indicating physical abuse while in custody." As the layers of this legal case unfold, Rodney Hinton Jr. remains in custody, and the specter of the justice system's next move looms over all parties involved.
