Woman sues Edmonson County officials after son tased following pursuit

The mother of a teen who was tased earlier this year by an Edmonson County Sheriff’s deputy after a high-speed chase spanning two counties is suing the Edmonson County judge-executive, two deputies and the sheriff in U.S. District Court.

Wendy Browning, in her lawsuit against Sheriff Shane Doyle, Judge-Executive Will Cannon and Deputies Jordan Jones and Austin Meredith, claims her son, who was a passenger in the car involved in the February pursuit, was unconscious after the collision and was tased for not following a deputy’s instructions. She is accusing the defendants of negligence.

Aaron Smith, an attorney at English Lucas Priest & Owsley is representing the Edmonson County officials in the suit.

“Obviously a lawsuit is just one side of the story and Deputy Jones and Meredith, and Sheriff Doyle look forward to the full facts of the case being brought out as we go forward,” Smith said. “You had a young man who chose to run from police at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, and we’re confident in the job that our deputies did and the decisions that they made.”

Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office records show that Meredith witnessed a bag being tossed from the vehicle at one point during the pursuit. While on U.S. 31 W, pursuing law enforcement officers were told that ammunition had been thrown from the vehicle and to watch for an armed occupant.

A toxicology screen performed on the driver showed he had methamphetamine and marijuana in his system, according to sheriff’s office records.