BLEDSOE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPT BEING SUED BY FAMILY OF DECEASED SUSPECT
A family is suing the Bledsoe County Sheriff’s Office in connection with the February 2021 death of a Pikeville man.
The lawsuit says 41-year-old Chad Songer died shortly after two sheriff’s deputies confronted him in his front yard, and claims that deputies released a K9 on him which captured him and bit him several times, which contributed to his death.
The incident happened on February 1st, 2021 at Songer’s home on Brookdale Road in Pikeville.
Shortly after the incident happened, Bledsoe County Sheriff Jimmy Morris told us Songer had a probation violation and a couple of other criminal warrants, including failure to pay child support.
The lawsuit claims Bledsoe County Sheriff’s Deputies Chase Roberts and Matthew Brock drove onto his driveway “in an aggressive manner,” got out, and with a K9 officer, told Songer he was under arrest.
The lawsuit says Songer, who was unarmed, backed away, fearing for his safety.
That’s when the lawsuit says Deputy Roberts unleashed the K9. Songer ran away, but the K9 caught up with him, biting him “numerous times.”
Songer was later pronounced dead at Erlanger Hospital.
A medical examiner’s report we obtained says Songer’s oThe incident happened on February 1st, 2021 at Songer’s home on Brookdale Road in Pikeville.
Shortly after the incident happened, Bledsoe County Sheriff Jimmy Morris told us Songer had a probation violation and a couple of other criminal warrants, including failure to pay child support.
The lawsuit claims Bledsoe County Sheriff’s Deputies Chase Roberts and Matthew Brock drove onto his driveway “in an aggressive manner,” got out, and with a K9 officer, told Songer he was under arrest.
The lawsuit says Songer, who was unarmed, backed away, fearing for his safety.
That’s when the lawsuit says Deputy Roberts unleashed the K9. Songer ran away, but the K9 caught up with him, biting him “numerous times.”
Songer was later pronounced dead at Erlanger Hospital.
A medical examiner’s report we obtained says Songer’s official cause of death was “acute methamphetamine toxicity,” but also lists a “contributory cause of death” as “dog bite.”
But the lawsuit claims the dog bite was the cause of Songer’s death.
The local district attorney told us he presented this case to a grand jury, which decided the deputies should not face any charges.
The lawsuit is asking for a total of $200 million in damages.
Anonymous
February 7, 2022 at 1:50 pm
So, this guy, while hyped up on meth, which was the main cause of his death, not the dog bites, bears no responsibility for his actions? Typical….
Anonymous
February 7, 2022 at 7:53 pm
Is the dog a meth addict now?
Mother of 3
February 7, 2022 at 8:09 pm
Why would you let a k 9 loose on a guy for running away? Could the officers not run after him themselves? I feel like something is not right. If the guy ran, why not just try to get him later? Sounds to me like a death that could have been avoided. Very Sad.
Melody L. Allen
February 16, 2022 at 2:14 pm
That is right they did not have to let loose of the K-9 Dog on him. The officer that did that was not even certified to handle the dog. And by a newspaper article he is waiting for deposition on investigation on police Brutality on an other victim. A man lost his life because of child support, that is very sad. I hope now the child get there child support from the Bledsoe County. Read up on this case and you will see the truth.