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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Man Who Shot Deputy Files Claim

From Staff And Wire Reports

A $27.4 million tort claim was filed against Bonner County and the sheriff’s department by a man who shot a deputy and was then wounded by the officer.

Reyhan Higgins, 21, was shot in the hip during a November gunfight with four officers. He was in custody at Bonner General Hospital eight days, but Prosecutor Tevis Hull never filed charges against him for wounding Deputy John Givens.

Givens suffered a minor arm injury.

Hull blamed the shootout on the officers who went to Higgins’ home on an arson and assault call. Hull said the four officers never properly identified themselves or used the flashing overhead lights on patrol cars.

Higgins now claims officers were “grossly negligent,” that he was falsely imprisoned and a victim of an unlawful assault. Higgins’ wife, Dawn Marie, filed a separate claim for $1.35 million for emotional distress and loss of wages for having to take care of her injured husband.

Higgins’ parents and his brother, Ian, who was also at the home during the gunfight, recently filed claims against the county for another $411,000.

, DataTimes