Man Charged In Deputy’s Death Files Lawsuit Against Montana

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — A man who is charged in the May 2017 shooting death of a Montana sheriff’s deputy has filed a federal lawsuit against the state and Gov. Steve Bullock.

Lloyd Barrus, who has been charged with accountability to deliberate homicide, alleges he was arrested without a grand jury indictment, threatened with the death penalty and has been denied a speedy trial. He is also seeking damages what he alleges is the wrongful death of his son, Marshall Barrus, during a shootout with police east of Missoula after a pursuit during which shots were fired at officers.

Marshall Barrus is believed to have shot and killed Broadwater County Deputy Mason Moore while his father drove.

Lloyd Barrus filed his lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Missoula, NBC Montana reported. He is seeking $11 million in damages, including repairs to his damaged vehicle, lost wages and for pain and suffering due to the loss of his son. He also wants the Montana State Hospital to stop forcing him to take anti-psychotic medication.

The Montana Supreme Court ruled last month that Barrus could be forcibly medicated at the state hospital at Warm Springs in an effort to make him mentally fit to stand trial. His lawsuit, filed without the help of an attorney, also names the director of the state hospital, a psychiatrist and a psychologist as defendants.

Officials with the governor’s office and the attorney general’s office declined to comment.