Former inmate sues Kentucky State Police, county jail

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A former Warren County Regional Jail inmate who has schizophrenia sued the jail, Kentucky State Police, a former state police trooper and two deputy jailers after he claims in a lawsuit that former state trooper Aaron Tucker assaulted him in the jail’s sally port last year and two jail employees used excessive force against him.

Timothy Michael Heston filed the federal lawsuit in March.

“Michael was actively psychotic and walking along the side of Interstate 65 in Bowling Green, Kentucky on March 17, 2019, responding to the ‘machines that had taken over his body’ and attempting to get to Tennessee for his son’s
birthday, when he first encountered Defendant Kentucky State Police (KSP) Trooper Aaron Tucker,” the lawsuit reads.

“Defendant Tucker transported Michael to the Warren County Regional Jail (WCRJ) where he brutally assaulted Michael in the sally port of the jail. Defendant Tucker, who is caucasian, physically attacked Michael, who
is bi-racial, without provocation, warning or justification and then fabricated a report about the assault.
At the time of the attack, Michael was handcuffed and unable to protect himself,” the lawsuit reads.

Tucker has since been fired from the state police following an internal investigation into the incident, according to the lawsuit.

Warren County Jailer Stephen Harmon released a statement Friday about the suit.

“It should be noted that the former KSP trooper has no connection to WCRJ whatsoever,” Harmon said in the statement. “Due to the pending litigation, I am not at liberty to comment in full detail at this time. However, it is important to note that the allegations of the lawsuit involving WCRJ are separate from the allegations involving the KSP trooper who arrested Heston.

“WCRJ is committed to our mission to provide a safe and well-maintained atmosphere while also providing for the care and custody of those incarcerated,” he said.

The jail stands behind the deputies and will “forcefully defend them and itself in a court of law,” Harmon said.

Heston is asking for a jury trial in his lawsuit.