Family sues city of Republic after man with epilepsy was killed by police officer

Show Caption Hide Caption No charges for Republic Officer No charges for Republic Officer

Family members of an unarmed man killed by police last year in Republic filed a lawsuit Monday against the officer, the city and the police chief.

The mother and four daughters of Destry Meikle are suing the city of Republic, claiming Sgt. John Tinsley used "inappropriate force" when he shot Meikle to death on Feb. 16, 2016.

The family says Meikle, 48, had a seizure while driving, and that caused him to crash into a pair of garages and then act strangely when Tinsley approached.

Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson decided in May of last year that he would not pursue criminal charges against Tinsley, saying the officer reasonably believed Meikle was a threat to run him over.

Jermaine Wooten, a St. Louis attorney who is representing Meikle's family members, said the family is hoping it can achieve justice with this lawsuit and see someone held accountable for Meikle's death.

"(Meikle's family members) are having a real tough time right now," Wooten said. "He really was a pillar of that family."

This week's lawsuit claims Tinsley violated Meikle's civil rights during the shooting, saying the officer's actions were "without justification, intentional and wrongful."

"At no point did any of the events which preceded Destry being shot justify the actions taken by Defendant Tinsley," the lawsuit says.

Meikle crashed his car into a garage on Peachtree Lane near Elm Street in Republic just before noon on Feb. 16, 2016.

Debris was scattered in the area, and a fire started underneath the vehicle.

Tinsley said he arrived on the scene and broke out the rear passenger window to try to help Meikle.

Meikle then cussed at the officer, put the car in reverse and backed up, knocking Tinsley to the ground, according to the officer.

Tinsley said he stood up and then heard what sounded like the vehicle being shifted into gear and saw the car lunge toward him again. Tinsley said he was afraid for his life and he then shot three times into the vehicle, striking Meikle.

There were no witnesses to the fatal encounter, and it apparently was not recorded on video.

Wooten said based on his analysis of the forensic evidence, he does not believe Tinsley was in danger where he was standing. The lawsuit says firefighters later determined the car was in reverse.

The lawsuit says that after Meikle was shot, he was forced to walk more than 150 feet to an ambulance, where he told paramedics he had suffered a seizure.

Meikle was transported to the hospital, where he later died.

The lawsuit claims the family has been deprived of not only Meikle's companionship but also his income, and that punitive damages are necessary to "punish Defendant Tinsley in his individual capacity and to deter him and others from the same or similar transgressions in the future."

As for the city and police chief Mike Lawton, the lawsuit claims they were negligent in their supervision, training and control of Sgt. Tinsley.

Dave Cameron, Republic city administrator, said Wednesday he could not comment on pending litigation.

Cameron said Tinsley is no longer employed by the city of Republic. The officer resigned in March of this year, according to Cameron.

Meikle was a manager at the Walmart Supercenter on South Campbell Avenue in Springfield at the time of his death. Online records indicate he had no criminal record in Missouri.

Meikle was engaged to be married and has four daughters under the age of 24.

Meikle's family members are not asking for a specific dollar amount in damages.