HAZEL DELL, WA — The family of a suspect, who was shot after allegedly pulling a sheriff’s deputy into his vehicle and trying to drag him, is now demanding the officer be arrested.
Attorneys representing the family of suspect Jenoah Donald, 30, have called for the arrest of Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Boyle, saying the officer inappropriately used deadly force.
Clark County residents call for body cameras, accountability after shooting death of Jenoah Donald https://t.co/7UVdD0bbsV pic.twitter.com/8FruZAoeD9
— The Oregonian (@Oregonian) February 17, 2021
Donald was shot in the head, but died a week later after his family removed him from life support. The suspect allegedly refused to comply with several orders and did not respond to physical pressure, which was applied in an attempt to gain his compliance.
Attorney Mark Lindquist said the incident between Donald and Boyle served as “an unfortunate cautionary tale about what happens when officers do not practice de-escalation,” The Columbian reported.
However, can a suspect be responsible for what happens if he or she refuses to comply with police orders and/or acts aggressively toward them? Let’s review what has been reported.
Residents press #Clarkwa Council for policing changes in wake of Donald shooting; Jenoah Donald of #Vanwa was shot by @ClarkCoSheriff deputies during a traffic stop earlier this month https://t.co/p832cPEAQA pic.twitter.com/YJNXthL43D
— The Columbian (@thecolumbian) February 17, 2021
The Columbian reported on the evening of Feb. 4, deputies responded to a block on Northwest Jordan Way for a “suspicious activity” call about two vehicles circling in the area. A caller had dialed 911 and “expressed frustration with the ‘drug house’ and ‘constant barrage of issues affecting the neighborhood.’”
Dispatch records showed that police have responded to calls in that area more than 40 times since June of 2020, The Columbian reported.
Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Boyle saw a bronze Mercedes Benz with Oregon license plates and a defective rear light on 68th Street and stopped the car.
You’re either commenting without knowing the details in this case or you’re just being disingenuous. You know DAMN well that a tail light wasn’t the cause of death. #jenoahdonald would still be alive if he had cooperated & followed directions by LEO’S #stopmakingexcuses
— Matty G (@Matt_Statedlife) February 21, 2021
The driver of the Mercedes was Donald, who showed Boyle a Washington identification card, but no proof of registration or insurance. According to an affidavit for a search warrant that was requested, Donald told Boyle his license had been suspended.
Documents filed Feb. 11 in Clark County District Court to search the 1999 Mercedes Benz 230 cite probable cause for third-degree assault. The search warrant was requested by Vancouver Police Officer Dustin Goudschaal, according to The Columbian.
The Columbian also noted that Donald had been cited last month on Jan. 21 for driving with a suspended license. In addition, court records showed that Donald was cited for numerous traffic violations in Clark County.
Interesting idea, is there anywhere that has tried this and what was the outcome? What happens with a DUI or something similar?
— rya (@wordsinusername) February 18, 2021
Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Holly Troupe arrived on the scene as backup and took up a position outside Donald’s passenger door to cover Deputy Boyle as he returned to his vehicle, according to The Columbian.
Deputy Troupe told investigators there were some concerning objects inside Donald’s car, including a “ball-handled” object with a 3- to 4-inch “stake” on its end that was located near the center console, according to the investigative synopsis.
Jenoah Donald Murdered By Clark County Deputy Sean Boyle: Clark County Deputy Sean Boyle shot Jenoah Donald in the head on February 4th and today his lawyer a… #jenoahdonald #seanboyle #blacklivesmatter #gregagar #hollytroupe https://t.co/SUEcOUuPFR #Police #County #Vancouver pic.twitter.com/51nXz9K4bh
— Cop Blaster: Police Misconduct Reporting (@CopBlaster) February 13, 2021
Investigators said that Deputy Troupe told them she ordered Donald multiple times to keep his hands visible, but that he ignored her and reached behind his back to pull out a cell phone and pliers, The Columbian reported.
The investigative synopsis further said that Deputy Boyle saw the situation escalating with Deputy Troupe at about the same time Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Greg Agar arrived on the scene.
Investigators said Deputy Boyle returned to the suspect’s vehicle, opened the car door and asked Donald to step out of his vehicle, The Columbian reported.
Clark County residents call for body cameras, accountability after shooting death of Jenoah Donald https://t.co/XvvLUdMnVh
— Black News Portal (@BlackNewsPortal) February 17, 2021
However, Donald allegedly refused to comply with the orders so Deputies Boyle and Troupe attempted to pull him out of the vehicle, according to the investigative synopsis.
Donald also allegedly failed to comply even after he was warned a police dog would be released upon him, The Columbian reported. The affidavit for the search warrant noted:
“Deputy Boyle, as a ruse, informed Jenoah Donald that he would send his K-9 to bite Jenoah Donald if he did not stop resisting. This did not gain compliance and Jenoah Donald continued to struggle with Deputy Boyle and Troupe.”
Deputy Boyle is a K-9 handler and a 21-year veteran of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. Boyle never removed his canine out of his police vehicle after he stopped Donald that night, The Columbian reported.
The affidavit said that Deputy Boyle had the most contact with Donald during the ensuing struggle because he was by the driver’s side of the vehicle and there was not enough room by the car’s door area for Deputies Troupe or Agar to physically assist Boyle.
Investigators said that Deputy Troupe said she was worried Donald was going to use his free hand to grab the sharpened stake on a ball that was on the console and assault Deputy Boyle with it, The Columbian reported.
Deputy Troupe attempted to gain “pain compliance” by placing finger pressure under Donald’s jaw, but that action had no effect on the suspect, according to the search warrant affidavit.
Investigators said Deputy Boyle told them he felt Donald pull on his outer ballistic vest and got yanked into the Mercedes, The Columbian reported.
Deputy Boyle said he ordered Donald to let go of him and punched him in the nose as they fought. According to the affidavit, the suspect merely replied, “Really?”
Investigators released new information about the Jenoah Donald shooting. It's the deputies' account, which includes force tactics apparently having little to no effect and a description of a "ball-handled" object with sharp points.
— Troy Brynelson (@TroyWB) February 11, 2021
Reading through it now. pic.twitter.com/u5ZI8Yu84e
Next, the deputies heard Donald start up his car and rev the engine. According to the investigative synopsis, Deputy Boyle tried to get himself free as the wheels began spinning:
“Deputy Boyle felt the vehicle begin to move forward, and fearing he was going to be killed, he drew his firearm (Deputy Boyle is left-handed) and gave Mr. Donald a verbal warning to stop or he would be shot.”
When Donald did not comply once again, Deputy Boyle fired two shots. One struck the suspect in the head.
I just watched a video of a white woman being arrested for not complying with mask mandates. She resisted arrests all of the way and was carefully placed in the back of the cop car. Jenoah’s death is unacceptable. It is murder. #JenoahDonald #murderbycop #ACAB #policebrutality https://t.co/tSPllreDS0
— Rachel Gorst (@Miabellatrixie) February 12, 2021
The investigative synopsis said Deputy Boyle pushed himself out of the moving vehicle and the car went on until it struck a fence in a neighboring yard, The Columbian reported.
Four days after Clark County Sheriff’s deputies killed Jenoah Donald we still know almost nothing about how or why he was shot on this suburban side street – note the tire tracks still visible as Donald’s car rolled across this yard. pic.twitter.com/EgUlx2Olbb
— Jason Renaud (@renaud_pdx) February 9, 2021
All three deputies immediately approached the vehicle and pulled Donald out of it so they could render first aid.
Lawyers for Donald’s family have called for the arrest of Deputy Boyle, despite the report that he was being dragged by a moving vehicle driven by a suspect who refused to comply with several orders by police.
One of the other attorneys for Donald’s family, Lara Herrmann, told Oregon Public Broadcasting:
“The officer should be arrested and held accountable.”
I would assume that if I struggled with police, dragged them into my car, started the car, I'd likely end up dead. Race has nothing to do with it, until the media makes it about race. https://t.co/MmwsBkKXv6
— Matt Reilly (@MattReilly928) February 19, 2021
Attorney Lindquist also told Oregon Public Broadcasting:
“Deadly force should be a last resort. Legally and morally. There were three tactically trained officers on the scene in full gear. They have tasers, pepper spray and other non-lethal weapons. There was no good reason to shoot Jenoah in the head.”
Lindquist framed it as a traffic stop gone bad:
“For the family, it’s still almost unimaginable how a traffic stop for a defective rear light was escalated by police to a fatal shooting.”
"For the family, it’s still almost unimaginable how a traffic stop for a defective rear light was escalated by police to a fatal shooting."
— ↙↙↙PDX Interfaith Clergy Resistance (@PDXICR) February 15, 2021
It's time to reimagine public safety #DefundThePolice https://t.co/HVIhJ3kFvH
No mention was made of the possibility that Donald escalated the situation by trying to drive away and dragging the deputy still inside the vehicle.
Lindquist also dismissed concerns that at least one of the deputies thought she saw a weapon in Donald’s vehicle. A search warrant affidavit reported no weapons were recovered from the Mercedes.
Oregon Public Broadcasting only noted innocuous items found in the vehicle, such as a medical bracelet belonging to Donald, two cellphones, a container for eyeglasses, a laptop and a cordless drill.
However, The Columbian provided more details:
“Other items listed on the evidence receipt include two projectiles; a 9 mm shell casing; swabs of the steering wheel and center console; a brown leather wallet; a medical bracelet belonging to Donald; two cellphones, one inside of a backpack and another on the front passenger’s seat; a laptop inside the same backpack; and a Washington state trip permit.
“An eyeglass case ‘containing suspected drug paraphernalia’ was located in the backpack.”
News: Search warrant returned on Jenoah Donald's car this afternoon.
— Troy Brynelson (@TroyWB) February 12, 2021
Investigators found a projectile, a shell casing, a wallet, a medical bracelet, two cell phones, a laptop, an eyeglass container some paperwork and a cordless drill. pic.twitter.com/mOBE0Pp5Sk
Deputy Troupe had reported seeing Donald reach behind his back and pull out a cellphone and metal pliers, according to The Columbian, but the pliers did not get listed on the evidence receipt for the search warrant.
Although seemingly harmless objects, including vehicles, can quickly be turned into a weapon, Lindquist said no actual weapons were recovered and suggested the police were overly panicking about the drill.
In an interview, Lindquist told The Columbian:
“When you look at the items recovered, this confirms there was no weapon in the car. A standard, commercial drill shouldn’t cause a panic.
“Number one: drills are only used as weapons in the movies, and number two: Jenoah never used it or even reached for it.”
These are not the tools of peaceful demonstrators.
— Commissioner Shea (@NYPDShea) June 6, 2020
Conversely, these ARE the tools of criminals bent on causing mayhem & hijacking what we all know is a worthwhile cause.
These items were seized from individuals arrested in the Bronx last night. pic.twitter.com/tM39bKHkjq
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