Just days after pleading not guilty to two counts of aggravated murder, one count of murder, and two counts of felonious assault, Rodney L. Hinton has filed a $25 million federal civil lawsuit.
Hinton made national headlines earlier this month after fatally striking a deputy with his vehicle a day after his son, 18-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr., was killed by officers during a shootout.
The federal lawsuit names the state of Ohio, the Cincinnati Police Department, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, and at least 10 unnamed officers.
Hinton is being represented by attorney Clyde Bennett. Bennett has publicly shared that he does not support the lawsuit but confirmed that it was filed by a woman on Hinton’s behalf.
In the lawsuit, Hinton claims that he was physically assaulted by Cincinnati, Ohio, deputies when they took him into custody the day after the fatal shooting of his son. Earlier this month, Hinton appeared for a court hearing and “appeared visibly beaten,” the lawsuit states. In a show of force, deputies and officers lined the courtroom during Hinton’s appearance in a show of unity. The lawsuit argues that this display was “creating an atmosphere of fear, surveillance, and intimidation.”
Hinton alleges that the way he was treated by officers violated his Fourth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Among the claims made in his complaint are unlawful imprisonment, as he was allegedly “detained unlawfully and without due process and without a valid conviction.” The civil suit also accuses authorities of conspiring to deprive him of his rights, intimidating him through excessive force, breaching their oath of office, and causing him emotional distress as a result.
The events leading up to this lawsuit unfolded on May 1st when officers responded to a call about an alleged stolen vehicle. When they arrived at the scene, 18-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr. appeared to be running away with an alleged firearm in his possession. During the chase, officers fired at Hinton Jr., with one bullet striking and killing the teen. It has not been made clear or made public which officer fired the fatal shot.
The next day, on May 2nd, Rodney Hinton and his family were with Cincinnati Police reviewing footage of the altercation between Hinton’s son and officers. Reports indicate that Hinton, who is currently prescribed Lexapro—a medication used to treat severe major depression—became triggered, left the police department, and drove to an intersection near the University of Cincinnati, where deputies were directing traffic as graduation events were underway.
One of the deputies was Deputy Larry Henderson. Henderson had recently retired from the department but was working a special duty shift that day. Reports suggest that Hinton may have been targeting Henderson when he struck him with his vehicle. Henderson later succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital.
Hinton is seeking $5 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages.