Kansas undersheriff charged in fatal beanbag shooting
SUN CITY, Kan Sept 6 2018
A Kansas undersheriff who fatally shot a man at close range with a beanbag has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents arrested 60-year-old Barber County Undersheriff Virgil “Dusty” Brewer Wednesday at the Barber County Courthouse. He was charged by the Kansas Attorney General’s office in the October 2017 death of 42-year-old Steven Myers, of Sun City.
Myers was shot with the beanbag after officers responded to a call about a man threatening people with a gun outside a bar in Sun City, about 110 miles west of Wichita.
Body camera video released in December shows that Myers was unarmed when he was shot.
“I’m a jumble of emotions” Myers’ widow, Kristina Myers, said in a written release. “Nothing will ever bring my husband back, but now at least we’re a step closer to getting justice for his death. I’m not really surprised at today’s charges. It was really the only possible response, given the body camera video recordings.”
Myers’ wife has sued Brewer and Sheriff Lonnie Small, alleging they used excessive force by shooting Myers, who she says was unarmed and not threatening officers or trying to escape when he was hit. Small was later dismissed from the federal lawsuit.
“No one wins in a case like this,” Myers said. “It’s pure devastation for our entire family, especially for my children who cry every night for their father. What matters most to us is making sure no other family has to suffer the hell we’ve had to endure since last October. This isn’t the Wild West, and sheriff’s deputies can’t execute unarmed citizens without severe consequences. My husband deserved better, and so do the citizens of Barber County.”
Brewer is scheduled to appear in court on Friday. His bond was set at $15,000.
KAKE
