CASE BACKGROUND: Did police violate the civil rights of 43-year-old Douglas Ostling when they responded to his home for his 911 call, shot him as he held an axe and then refused to let anyone go into his room as he bled to death?
That’s what eight jurors in Tacoma’s federal U.S. District Court will have to decide.
Ostling’s estate, as well as his parents, William and Joyce, are suing the city of Bainbridge Island and its police chief, Jon Fehlman, along with Officer Jeff Benkert, the man who fired the shot that caused the fatal injury.
On Monday, we heard opening statements.
On Tuesday, we heard from Officer Benkert.
And today, we’re hearing from Officer David Portrey, who was with Benkert at the time. There may be other witnesses, too.
