|
What could be a million dollar lawsuit against the West Virginia State Police is being
filed by Gassaway resident Renee Vanhorn. The suit alleges harassment and
damages, according to Gassaway attorney Jeniver Jones.
State Police had filed numerous charges against Vanhorn, causing her bond to be set
at $50,000, which her attorney said was "extremely unreasonable."
Jones and attorney William Martin, a former Braxton prosecutor, will file the suit
within a week against former Trooper M. A. Staley, the West Virginia State Police and
possibly other officers in Braxton County.
State Police in South Charleston said Staley is no longer an officer with the agency.
Staley and his commanding officer Sgt. John Bonazzo have been accused of
incidents related to harassment. Vanhorn and ten other Braxton County residents
were placed on a list to be "given no breaks," in an official memo signed by
Bonazzo.
Sgt. Bonazzo was reportedly called on the carpet regarding the list, but was returned
to duty. The so-called "target list" was circulated to Braxton County law enforcement.
Parties involved in the suit are alleging State Police are accusing Sheriff Howard
Carpenter of compiling the list, although Bonazzo signed it.
Sheriff Carpenter told The Herald "A whole lot of people are stirring this up. I'll testify
to the truth, if it goes to court."
Braxton Prosecutor Bryan Lanham told The Herald in February, "I don't know of any
laws broken by the State Police," when asked if he believed the "target list" was
illegal. "I support my law enforcement officers as much as possible." He said
consideration should be given about those complaining, looking at veracity and
truthfulness, or the credibility of those making the complaints in some of the
cases.
Lanham recently wrote a Letter to the Editor of the Braxton Citizen News to answer
public concerns regarding his dismissal of several cases in magistrate court. He did
not list dismissals against people on the "target list."
Vanhorn, who was the owner of Rumors, a defunct Gassaway bar and restaurant,
says she lost her business because of police harassment and has since suffered
health problems. She pled no contest to a contributing charge in Braxton magistrate
court on March 27. Vanhorn said she had been accused of "coercing (a minor) to not
listen to his parents and law enforcement."
Other Braxton residents told The Herald they are in the process of filing civil suits
against the State Police.
Sgt. Bonazzo, who was previously assigned to Calhoun County, is connected to an
investigation related to Trooper Doug Starcher. Court records indicate Starcher may
have committed perjury in the Kelley Mace drug case while under Bonazzo's
supervision. Calhoun Prosecuting Attorney Tony Morgan recused himself and Judge
Thomas Evans III has asked for a special prosecutor to investigate.
The Board of Risk, in behalf of the State Police, have reportedly offered to settle a
claim by Grantsville resident Richard Whytsell. State Police sustained charges
against Trooper Starcher after he threw a MagLite through Whytsell's rear window.
The State Police declined to replace the window, and Trooper Starcher persisted in
bringing charges against Whytsell, who says he committed no offense.
A Freedom of Information request with the State Police by a Beckley newspaper
discovered the State Board of Risk and Insurance Management has paid out $5
million in claims to individuals who have been injured. These are "settled cases" that
did not go to court. Robert Fisher, a claims manager for the Board of Risk, said "If we
don't owe it, we don't want to pay it."
| 
