The family of a 75-year-old Benton County man just recently filed a $3.8 million wrongful death lawsuit that alleges injuries caused by a Benton County Sheriff’s deputy led to his death a few weeks later. The lawsuit has been filed almost 2 years after the incident occurred.
The suit, which was also reported this week by The Oregonian and KPTV, centers on an August 31, 2024, encounter between Dennis Sachet and Benton County sheriff’s Deputy James “David” Young.
According to the KPTV report, Oregon Department of Forestry crews went to Sachet’s property after receiving a report of illegal burning. An incident report alleged Sachet pushed a firefighter and threatened to shoot crew members if they returned.
Young later went to the property to speak with Sachet about the reported confrontation and burning complaint. Things escalated, and the lawsuit alleges Young wrongfully used force to restrain Sachet.
Sachet appears to have been an Albany resident, but the recent suit only describes the encounter as occurring on his property in Benton County and does not identify the community.
The suit says Sachet was medically fragile. Body-camera footage aired by KPTV shows Sachet telling the deputy he had a catheter in his chest and did not know whether it was bleeding.
(Photo: Benton County Deputy Body Camera Recording)
The officer then called paramedics, and they treated Sachet after the encounter. He went to a hospital the following day. He was found dead on his living-room floor on September 13th, 2024. About two weeks after the incident occurred.
The lawsuit states that “an autopsy determined that injuries inflicted during the encounter caused Sachet’s lung tissue to move inward and deflate.” Those claims have not yet been tested in court.
The suit documents refer to the official autopsy conducted through the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, not an autopsy commissioned by his daughter. The lawsuit seems to be relying on that examination’s findings, although each side could retain experts to interpret or dispute them.
“Dennis was at home. He wasn’t out looking for trouble, and our case alleges that what should have been a de-escalated encounter ended with fatal injuries instead,” Austin Neff, an attorney representing the family, told KPTV.
“The biggest question is why,” Neff said. “Why did this happen? Why did the deputy feel the need to use force against this 75-year-old man who is medically fragile?”
The lawsuit presents the family’s allegations. Benton County and Young will have an opportunity to respond in court.
This article was written by Brian Lindensmith, a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com
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