Ohio father who fatally struck deputy with car after son was killed by police files $25M lawsuit

Rodney L. Hinton, the Ohio father who is charged with fatally striking a deputy with his car after his son was killed in a police shooting, filed a federal civil lawsuit seeking $25 million.

Hinton filed the lawsuit Thursday, two days after a bond hearing where a judge ordered him to be held in connection with the death of Hamilton County Special Deputy Larry Henderson. The lawsuit was amended on Monday.

The lawsuit alleges that Hinton was physically assaulted after police took him into custody on May 2, and he “appeared visibly beaten” during his court hearing last week. It also says that multiple officers were present for the hearing, “creating an atmosphere of fear, surveillance, and intimidation.”

Hinton pleaded not guilty Tuesday to two counts of aggravated murder, one count of murder, and two counts of felonious assault, NBC affiliate WLWT of Cincinnati reported.

He is suing for unlawful imprisonment, alleging he was “detained unlawfully, without due process, and without a valid conviction,” as well as conspiracy to deprive rights, intimidation and excessive force, emotional distress, and breach of oath of office.

The suit is seeking $5 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages. The state, the Cincinnati Police Department, and the Hamilton County sheriff are named as defendants.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said it had “no comment on pending litigation.” The other defendants did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Authorities accused Hinton of intentionally hitting Henderson on May 2 as the deputy was directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati during graduation events. Henderson, who retired about five months ago and was working as a special deputy that day, died of injuries at a local hospital.

At last week’s bond hearing, Cincinnati police officer Carl Beebe said Hinton had viewed body camera footage of the police shooting involving his son shortly before the collision. Family members said he was “upset” and “agitated” after viewing the video, and they had concerns about him driving.

Because of their concerns, relatives drove Hinton from the station, but he later returned to pick up his vehicle from the parking lot, the officer said. From there, Hinton drove toward the university and appeared to stop before he allegedly “accelerated quickly … through the intersection where deputy Henderson was standing,” Beebe said at the hearing.

The vehicle struck the deputy and a utility pole, according to Beebe, who said there was no indication that Hinton tried to stop. The officer said Henderson was “launched several feet through the air” and “came to rest in a turn lane several feet from where the collision occurred.”

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge previously said that there was a definite connection between the collision and the May 1 fatal shooting of Hinton’s 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton.

The teenager was killed by a Cincinnati police officer responding to a report of a stolen vehicle at an apartment complex, according to authorities. The police chief had said that four people in the alleged stolen car ran, some in different directions, after police approached them.

Two officers pursued Ryan Hinton and another person, authorities said. Theetge said Ryan Hinton was armed. The firearm was found at the scene, authorities said.

The officer fired at least four times, Theetge said Friday. She said she believes the 18-year-old was hit by two bullets, one in the chest and one in the arm.