James Dean

James Dean, 50, died after he was arrested by Kenova police in April 2019. Police answered a domestic disturbance call and arrested Dean. Just a few hours later, he was taken to Cabell-Huntington Hospital where he soon underwent emergency brain surgery. He slipped into a coma and never regained consciousness. He died 17 days later when his family removed him from life support.

Kenova Police Chief Bob Sullivan said there was an incident when officers were trying to get Dean into the police department for processing. Sullivan said there was some resistance from Dean and at that point the officer shoved him and they both went to the ground and both hit their head.

The medical examiner’s report showed Dean suffered multiple blunt force injuries to his head and his estate alleges the injuries were from the officer hitting Dean multiple times while he was handcuffed.

In April 2021 Dean’s mother has filed a federal lawsuit and has accused the city of Kenova and the officer of violating her son’s Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures as well as reckless or malicious conduct and deliberate indifference.