Jury Awards $10 Million in Wrongful Death and Injury Case Involving Jackson County Deputy’s Shooting Incident

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — A Jackson County jury awarded a $10 million judgment last Friday after a closely-watched court case involving a deputy’s fatal shooting of one person and the wounding of another. The deputy shot the pair during an encounter that escalated quickly in 2019. Deputy Tyler Naudet of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office fired at Allen Cates, 29, and Randi McGaugh, who were in a vehicle in Independence on Sept. 12, 2019. Cates died at the scene of multiple gunshot wounds, while McGaugh sustained injuries to her shoulder and back. The courtroom was told … Read more

Good Samaritan Witness Testifies Against Man Accused of First Degree Murder in Moody County Chief Deputy’s Death

BROOKINGS COUNTY, South Dakota – The man accused of Murder in the First Degree in the death of Moody County Chief Deputy Sheriff Ken Prorok is set to be arraigned in a court in Brookings County. Joseph Gene Hoek, a 40-year-old resident of Sioux Falls, faced charges before a Grand Jury on Friday. The Grand Jury heard from two witnesses – a law enforcement officer and a Good Samaritan who provided immediate aid to Prorok before apprehending the suspect. The Good Samaritan, Tyler Kills-A-Hundred of Flandreau, happened to be on the same stretch of highway … Read more

Mistrial Declared in 50-Year-Old Cold Case of Special Sheriff’s Deputy’s Murder: Jury Deadlocked

ROCKVILLE, Maryland – A mistrial was declared on Wednesday evening in the case of a 1971 killing of a special sheriff’s deputy, as the jury remained deadlocked after more than two days of deliberation. The trial involved the alleged murder of Montgomery County Deputy James Tappen Hall. According to an anonymous juror, several individuals on the jury did not believe that the state had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. One or two jurors were reportedly convinced that they could never convict 71-year-old Larry David Smith in the death of Deputy Hall. Hall’s daughter, … Read more

Jury Deliberates Fate of Defendant in Smith County Deputy’s Death Case

TYLER, Texas – The jury is currently deliberating in the case of Daniel Nyabuto versus the State of Texas. Nyabuto is facing the charge of intoxicated manslaughter, accused of causing the death of a peace officer. During his trial, which spanned eight days, Nyabuto pleaded not guilty to the charge. The jury was initially released on December 15 but reconvened on January 9 for closing arguments and deliberations. Prosecutors allege that Nyabuto was driving under the influence when he rear-ended a patrol unit, resulting in the death of Smith County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Lorenzo Bustos. … Read more